FOOTBALL EXTRA:PIERRE van Hooydonk looks certain to miss Celtic's match against Aberdeen at Parkhead on Saturday through injury.

The Dutchman confirmed yesterday that he is suffering from a strain to his left calf, which he picked up in the first five minutes of last weekend's match at Easter Road. He is not the only new injury problem, which faces manager Tommy Burns.

``At the moment both Pierre van Hooydonk and Andreas Thom are causing us concern. Neither of them has recovered as quickly as we had hoped,'' he said yesterday. Thom has a torn hamstring. Burns is however hopeful that new captain Alan Stubbs, and midfielder Morten Wieghorst, will be fit.

``Stubbs has trained over the last couple of days and looks OK. Morten Weighorst has also trained a couple of times this week, but we'll just have to wait and see,'' he said.

And it seems we will just have to wait and see how van Hooydonk's negotiations on a new contract develop. It's believed that his agent, Rob Jensen is in the country, but neither side was hinting at any movement yesterday.

The movement of John Hughes from Celtic to Hibs for #250,000 yesterday was something Burns was prepared to comment on, and he paid a handsome tribute to the man leaving Parkhead.

``John Hughes is the perfect example of a guy who has worked hard and has given everything he has got to make a career in the game. He is a credit not only to himself and his family, but also to every hard-working professional who is out there.''

Burns assured Hibs they had made a wise purchase. ``He gives everything he can for every team he plays for. He certainly did that for us. John Hughes played away beyond our expectations when he came here and achieved a higher standard than we could have hoped for.'' While sad to leave Parkhead, Hughes was clearly delighted to sign for the club he has supported all his life.

``I was a bit sad to go,'' Hughes said at Easter Road yesterday, ``but I wouldn't have left for any team other than Hibs. This is a fantastic move for me. My family are happy as well, because they are all Hibs daft.''

Hughes, who stood on the terraces at Easter Road to support the ``Hands Off Hibs campaign'' when Wallace Mercer tried to buy the club, will make his debut tonight at Rugby park against Kilmarnock.

Caretaker manager Jocky Scott was pleased with his first venture into the transfer market, only a week after the Hibs board told him he has until Christmas to secure the post.

``John is a winner and a leader,'' Scott said yesterday. ``He's the type of player who leads by example and he justs hates to get beaten. The experience he's had at Celtic can only stand him in good stead.''

He will bolster a defence which will still be without long-term injury victims, Gordon Hunter and Brian Welsh for the Kilmarnock match. Club Captain Jim Leighton is likely to return in goal after suspension, but striker Keith Wright is still doubtful.

Kilmarnock manager Alex Totten will not name his side until kick-off this evening. Ally Mitchell is suffering from shin damage he sustained in training and Kevin McGowne has a neck injury. Tom Brown looks to be recovering well from a thigh strain.

Totten's side are flirting with the relegation zone, and after Saturday's defeat at East End Park, he is determined to get back to winning ways.

``Winning home games is vital and we must take three points tonight and in every game here at Rugby Park,'' he said yesterday.

The match is being played on a Friday evening to accommodate satellite television. Totten sees this as an opportunity for his side to entertain a wider audience than usual.

After last week's poor attendance at the Dunfermline v. Rangers Coca-Cola Cup semi-final, which was also shown live on TV, Kilmarnock have taken steps to boost the audience in the stadium by reducing admission prices.