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SirStanleyBowles- 03-02-2006
O'Connor put through Moscow mill
Garry O'Connor will undergo a second day of medical examinations in Munich ahead of his expected £1.6m transfer from Hibernian to Lokomotiv Moscow. The 22-year-old striker had been allowed to leave the Scotland squad for their friendly to complete the move. And agent Gary Mackay said: "They have left no stone unturned and Garry is out on his feet at the moment. "It's as thorough a medical as I've ever seen. We've been to three clinics in and around Munich." O'Connor is unlikely to be back in the UK until Friday at the earliest. "There have been occasions in recent years when clubs have paid big fees then a few months later the player has broke down because of an injury he had been carrying, so I can understand their thoroughness, said Mackay. "All the test results will be collected together and we will get the final results on Friday or Saturday, so it could be then before we are able to come back. "After that, it will be up to them to make the next move." O'Connor will earn a reported £16,000 per week if he makes the move, which Lokomotiv are anxious to conclude before the closure of the Russian transfer window. Scotland manager Walter Smith, preparing to face Switzerland, said: "We were asked by Hibs if he could go for a medical and we can't stand in his way. "It means a lot to Hibs in terms of transfer fees and it gives a young man the chance to achieve a contract that he couldn't get at another Scottish club." The striker is Hibs' joint-leading goalscorer this season, alongside Derek Riordan, with 14 goals. He has two years left on his current contract at Easter Road, but a move to Lokomotiv, who finished third in the last season's Russian championship, could make him a millionaire. Hibs manager Tony Mowbray told his club website: "The personal terms proposed are exceptional and will simply be life-changing for Garry and his family. "We have to understand Garry's position given it's such a big opportunity for him. "Although the timing is clearly not ideal, it's not right to think that we as a team hang our hat on one particular player. "And if he does go then hopefully we will move towards building a new training facility, something I've been talking about since I came here. "The club have been doing well trying to find money for it, but this could make the difference. "Hopefully we will be able to get another couple of players in as well, although we won't be paying hundreds of thousands of pounds for them."