Source: FOOTYMAD
No Time To Relax For Brown
Old friends will meet up at Rugby Park today, as long as the road conditions do not get worse. Hibs' goalkeeper Mark Brown will meet his former team-mates at Kilmarnock today but is determined not to enjoy the post-match hospitality of friends too much at Rugby Park with the busy festive period just around the corner. Hibs are at the wrong end of the SPL table with the end of the year approaching but a win today could provide crucial momentum into a period which sees Hibs in action five times in 16 days. Depending on the weather, after the game with Killie , Hibs have to play Hamilton, Aberdeen, Dundee United before the New Year's Day derby with Hearts. But with the club's Christmas party already behind them, Brown and his team-mates will focus on the job in hand. He said: "It's just a case of getting on with it. Most of the boys in the squad are experienced and we know that's part and parcel of the job. I don't think the manager has to remind anybody of their responsibilities as a footballer. You have to live your life right. You have to be professional in everything you do and the games when they come round will take care of themselves." Hibs and Mixu Paatelainen's Kilmarnock hope to be kicking a competitive ball for the first time in three weeks and Brown admits it has been a frustrating time. But he will rekindle happy memories at Rugby Park, having made 15 appearances on loan for Killie last season. Brown, who signed for Hibs from Celtic in January, added: "I was there for about four months last year on loan and had a thoroughly enjoyable time. It's a great club and a lot of good people work behind the scenes there. Mixu's come in and he's done fantastically well with them." Cammy Bell has picked the Killie number one jersey from Brown and was rewarded for a fine opening to the season with a first Scotland appearance in last month's friendly with the Faroe Islands. Brown praised his fellow stopper. He said: "I think he had a hard time when he was younger - he had a couple of knee injuries. I think he just needed a chance to go and play and he got the chance when I went back to Celtic and then came here. He's done well and he's got a good defence around about him and they're winning games, which always helps." Brown's teammate, striker Darryl Duffy is getting closer to a return to action after suffering a broken toe in September on the eve of his scheduled debut. Duffy, who is on loan from Bristol Rovers, said: "I've been back in full training since Monday, so there is light at the end of the tunnel eventually. It feels really good to be back training again and it is looking positive at the minute. I'm fully fit and clear of injury, so now it is about building up my fitness. It is up to the manager now when I'm selected, but I realise that I just need to be patient. I've been patient over the past 12 weeks or so and I don't want to push it too hard, too soon and end up back in the treatment room." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net
