I'm going nowhere - Zemmama

Merouane Zemmama insists he has no intention of quitting Hibernian in January.

Morocco playmaker Zemmama was this week linked to French sides Valenciennes and Lens but manager John Hughes insisted the 26-year-old was crucial to his plans at Easter Road.

And the player himself, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, believes he owes Hibs.

The club helped him in an acrimonious row with his former side Raja Casablanca and then allowed him to leave on a season-long loan to the United Arab Emirates to be with his new wife Zenib.

Hibs negotiated Home Office red tape to allow Zenib and infant son Mehdi to join Zemmama in Edinburgh and he told the Edinburgh Evening News: "I heard these reports but I don't know anything about them.

"I am happy here. I have a long contract, 18 months to run, and I am focused on Hibs, nothing else.

"This club means a lot to me. I became a professional football player here, they have helped me overcome some problems and shown great kindness to me, Zenib and Mehdi.

"I will always be grateful for that and my aim is to give them everything I have.

"I won't be knocking on the manager's door saying I want to go. I am staying."