Hibs ace Rocky dashing to make Kilmarnock clash after World Cup travel plans cause defender to miss training
Easter Road boss David Gray sets cut-off for return - and names alternative for back three
Hibs will make a late decision on Rocky Bushiri’s involvement in tomorrow’s crucial Easter Road clash with Kilmarnock – after the central defender joined his international team-mates in travelling to Kinshasa on his way back from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s historic World Cup qualification triumph.
The DRC declared a national holiday in the wake of the Leopards ending a 52-year wait for the nation’s second ever appearance in football’s biggest international tournament. The country was still known as Zaire when they lost all three group games against Scotland, Yugoslavia and Brazil at the 1974 finals in West Germany.
DRC triumph sparked wild celebrations in Kinshasa
Bushiri, who was an unused substitute in Tuesday night’s 1-0 international play-off win over Jamaica in Guadalajara, Mexico, wasn’t back in Scotland in time to train with his Hibs team-mates at East Mains today. And Gray, asked if he’d put a deadline in place before he ruled the centre-half out of contention for a place in tomorrow afternoon’s Scottish Premiership clash, joked: "Well, they need to be back before three o'clock, don't they?
"You're always planning. We've had Grant Hanley back training as well, which is really positive.
"So we have got players in the squad to be able to deal with if anybody picks up knocks and bumps and bruises. There is always that, when they return, how players are, how fit they are, how fresh they're feeling, and it is a case of balancing on that.
"Rocky's been slightly delayed coming back. We're still hopeful about the way that's going to go.
“We'll just wait and see, timing-wise, and rest-wise. It's fantastic for them; first time getting to the World Cup in 50 years.
"But their route back the way was via Congo, so we're just trying to work all that out. When’s he due back? Soon! He's somewhere between here and there!"
Asked if the DRC’s large contingent of European-based players had always planned to travel back via home, or whether the itinerary had been changed in the wake of victory, Gray admitted: "To be honest, I don't technically know the exact answer to that.
"What I do know is that he's fit, he's healthy, and he's on his way back. That's the most important thing.
"On a personal note, I'm delighted for him; it's a reward for the work they've done and what they've achieved, to go over, to be going to the World Cup. It's incredible for him, I'm delighted.”
Scotland defender short of game time
Although Scotland defender Hanley has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up late in a 0-0 home draw with Rangers on February 1, the veteran has only played 45 minutes in a bounce game against Raith Rovers since returning to full fitness. He was an unused substitute for both of Scotland’s friendly defeats during the international break.
Potential stand-in Munashe Garanaga, meanwhile, has been ruled out of contention after picking up a hamstring injury on international duty with Zimbabwe, Gray confirming: "That was a disappointing one for Gara; he picked up a bit of a hamstring issue in the first game when he was away. The positive news is he's back, we've had him assessed, and it's nothing too significant.
"He's not done anything since, so I think it will be unlikely he's available for tomorrow just because of the time, the fact he did feel something, and the risk then, longer term, of putting him into that situation. I fully expect him to be training in the early part of next week, but I think this game might come just too soon.
"The positive is that we have Grant Hanley coming back to fitness, we've got Jordan Obita back fit as well. So we have got options back there, which is the benefit of having a strong squad.
"It (the travel) is part of the job. It is what they sign up for when they go with the national teams. But at the same time, it's a sacrifice that you make if you're a top player representing your country.
"It's my job to find that balance, to make sure we get that freshness, but without putting anyone at risk, and also making sure the team is in the best possible shape it can be."
Miguel Chaiwa trained today as he continues his recovery from a groin issue sustained late in the 0-0 draw with Motherwell at Fir Park just before the break, while both Felix Passlack and Owen Elding have been cleared to play after minor knocks.