latest news
JONES WELCOMES NEW FACES
Jones - pleased with signings.
Hibernian captain Rob Jones believes Mixu Paatelainen's latest summer signings will lift the gloom ahead of the new Clydesdale Bank Premier League season.
Manager Paatelainen unveiled French defender Steven Thicot and former Chelsea midfielder Joe Keenan this week, to add to his earlier capture of St Mirren full-back David Van Zanten.
Paatelainen has come under increasing pressure as his misfiring team have failed to win any of their warm-up matches or score a goal.
Defeats to Third Division Cowdenbeath and First Division Clyde have worried supporters in the wake of the Intertoto Cup exit to Swedes Elfsborg and the 6-0 hammering from Barcelona.
Final friendlies at home against Barclays Premier League opponents Middlesbrough tomorrow and Wigan next Wednesday will provide further stern tests ahead of the August 9 kick-off against Kilmarnock.
Jones is hopeful the new faces can provide fresh impetus as Hibs seek form for the all-important trip to Rugby Park.
Jones said: "It's nice we've added a few more faces to the dressing room. I've seen them in training and in games and they look like very good acquisitions.
"It's always good for the football club when we attract good footballers to help the club improve as a whole and the individuals around them.
"We've got an awful lot of good players at our football club.
"Yes, things haven't gone as we would have liked them to have in pre-season, but we've learned an awful lot about ourselves and each other through those games.
"Adding new faces and good players to our squad only benefits us.
"We just know where we need to be for that first game of the season. We're trying everything possible and (working) as hard as we can to get to that point.
"There's two games to go and then the big kick-off, which is something we're all looking forward to."
A victory over Middlesbrough would certainly help lift the gloom which has descended on Easter Road of late, but Jones insists the result is not too important.
He added: "Pre-season is to get as fit as you possibly can and as sharp as you possibly can ready for the first game of the season. That's when the most important stuff starts."
