WHITTAKER IN THE ZONE FOR HIBS’ EURO MISSION

HIBS defender Steven Whittaker can’t wait to go in pursuit of fresh European adventures — a decade after the high of reaching the UEFA Cup final with Rangers.

Neil Lennon’s side were yesterday rewarded for their fine fourth-place Premiership finish last season when they drew NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands in the Europa League first qualifying round.

Whittaker, who rejoined Hibs 12 months ago, last played in Europe for the Leith outfit in a two-legged defeat to Odense in the Intertoto Cup in 2006.

But his highlight on the continent came the season he scored in a UEFA Cup quarter-final win for Rangers over Sporting Lisbon en route to facing Zenit St Petersburg in the final in Manchester.

Whittaker said. ‘That goal (in Lisbon) was special. We’d love to go on a run and give the fans a few trips but, to do that, we need to get through the first round.’

Hibs host Runavik in Edinburgh on July 12 before the return leg in the Faroes seven days later. Should they get through the first round they would face a tougher tie against Greeks Asteras Tripolis.

Meanwhile, Lennon will today find out if he is to be hit with a touchline ban following his ‘aeroplane’ celebration at the end of last season’s dramatic 5-5 draw against Rangers. A disciplinary panel will convene at Hampden to rule on the case, with Lennon potentially facing a four-match suspension. A twogame touchline ban would normally be doled out by the governing body for such an offence.

However, Lennon has a suspended ban of two games hanging over him following a rant at referee Kevin Clancy during a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock in February.

That means a guilty verdict could see him banished from the dugout for an accumulative four fixtures.