PAT FENLON has afforded his Hibernian players an extra few days' holiday, telling them not to report back for training until Friday as thoughts at the Easter Road club turn to their Europa League qualifier next month.

It was initially expected that the squad would return yesterday, just over three weeks since their William Hill Scottish Cup final defeat by Celtic. However, the manager has revised those plans ahead of the club's entry into Europe on July 18.

When they return, preparations for their first continental tie in three years will include a friendly with Nottingham Forest. Fenlon will first take his squad to Spain and Portugal for warm-weather training and a friendly against Gibraltar on July 3, before facing Forest three days later.

"Forest are a quality team and this will be an excellent test as we build to the Europa League," said Fenlon.