David Gray update as Hibs captain told he must wait for first-team chance

Hibs boss Jack Ross has told club captain David Gray he’ll have to wait for the opportunity to reclaim his place in the Easter Road side.

The 31-year-old has endured a frustrating season, missing the Betfred Cup group stage through injury before suffering “significant” knee ligament damage in the 2-2 draw with Saturday’s opponents St Johnstone towards the end of August.

Gray only returned to action in January, a second half substitute as Jason Naismith found his season brought to a premature end by an ankle injury sustained during the Scottish Cup tie against Dundee United at Tannadice.

But he made just two more starts, coming off at half-time in the second of them, a 2-2 draw at home against St Mirren at the beginning of last month and hadn’t even made the bench until being an unused substitute in Saturday’s defeat by Aberdeen.

Gray did, however, play in a reserve game friendly against the Dons on Tuesday, scoring Hibs third goal in a 6-1 victory.

Confirming Gray’s most recent absence from first team duty hadn’t been down to injury, Ross said: “We had to have that balance in terms of the team and substitutes and it’s just a case of David being ready to go, which he is.

“He’s trained well, we speak to him a lot and he’s desperate to be back involved, but it’s about when an opportunity presents itself - and I’m sure it will - either through form, injury or suspension, and then it’s up to him to take it.”