Christian Doidge set to feature in Hibs' season opener after missing pre-season matches

Welshman was left out of bounce games as precaution

Christian Doidge has recovered from a knock and is expected to feature against Kilmarnock

Christian Doidge is expected to be involved in Hibs' first match of the season after missing the bulk of the club's pre-season programme.

The Welsh striker suffered an impact injury to his knee earlier this month but the 27-year-old resumed training today with a view to playing a part in the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership opener against Kilmarnock on Saturday, August 1.

Doidge netted 18 times in all competitions last term, including two hat-tricks, and was on the Wales national team’s radar ahead of Euro 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic brought the game to a halt in mid-March.

Hibs are down to just three first-team options up front, after head coach Jack Ross confirmed he was hoping to offload Florian Kamberi “as soon as possible”.

The 25-year-old is currently at home in Switzerland and hasn’t featured in any of the club’s pre-season games.

Speaking after watching Celtic run out 3-1 winners at Parkhead in the Easter Road side's final pre-season match, Ross said: “[Kamberi] remains a Hibs player obviously because he's contracted for another season but he won't be part of my plans so we need to find a solution for both parties as soon as possible.

"The sooner that's done, the better for Florian as a player and for us as a club.”

Summer signing from Dunfermline Athletic Kevin Nisbet and academy graduate Jamie Gullan are likely to be included in the squad this weekend, with both featuring prominently in the club's recent bounce matches.

Youngster Ryan Shanley is also knocking on the door of the first-team squad after impressing on loan last season at Lowland League outfit Civil Service Strollers and League One side Forfar Athletic.

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