Mixu reveals Noubissie is latest player to leave Hibs

MIXU PAATELAINEN today revealed Patrick Noubissie has become the latest player to leave Easter Road as the Hibs boss continues to revamp his squad for the coming season.

The 25-year-old midfielder was signed by former boss John Collins last summer but made just four appearances in a green and white shirt, none under Paatelainen, and spent the final few months of the season on loan to Dundee.

But today Paatelainen disclosed the French player, who had joined Hibs on a two-year deal, would be joining striker Mickael Antoine-Curier, midfielder Keegan Ayre and defender Dermot McCaffrey in heading for the exit door.

Paatelainen is seeking to trim his first-team squad, currently numbering 33, to around a more manageable 25 although, in doing so, he is determined to drive up the quality within his pool.

He said: "It's not a case of me being ruthless, it's pointless to keep so many players knowing that some of them might be fifth in the queue and would never play.

"I want a tighter squad but hopefully a bit more quality. Having so many players isn't good, a tighter squad means everyone knows exactly what is happening."

Paatelainen also insisted it was in the better interest of youngsters such as McCaffrey, who has signed a three-year deal with SPL rivals Falkirk, to seek pastures new.

The Northern Ireland under-21 player spent the entire season on loan at Livingston, a move agreed by Collins, but Paatelainen believed he'd struggle to find a place for the youngster whose only appearance for Hibs ended in a red card at Pittodrie a year ago.

He said: "I went to watch Dermot a couple of times at Livingston. He is a good player but we have very tough competition for places at centre-half and I felt 'why stop his progress'.

"If we had kept him he'd probably have gone out on loan again which wouldn't have served any purpose. To me it's better he go somewhere, play first-team football and further his progress."

Having already signed St Mirren defender David Van Zanten on a pre-contract, Paatelainen's search for fresh talent has also seen the arrival of former Hibs star Craig Rocastle at the club's training centre for a four-day trial.

The 26-year-old became a firm favourite with the Easter Road fans when he arrived in Edinburgh on loan from Chelsea in 2004 but made just 14 appearances before returning to London. Since then he has played with Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham Athletic and Port Vale but has now become a free agent, although Paatelainen revealed he was back on Hibs' radar before being released by the Midlands outfit.

Although Rocastle has also been on trial with St Mirren, Paatelainen insisted Hibs' interest had preceded that move, saying: "We'd made contact with his agent and then heard he was on a free. I've heard he did very well here last time round and hopefully he is still the player he was then.

"We'll have a couple of training sessions, see how he does and take things from there."