Hibs in AFCON negotiations - Easter Road side seek permission for trio of stars to face Rangers at Ibrox
David Gray addresses Charlton loanee’s situation after transfer exit hint by Addicks boss
Hibs are in negotiations in the hope of retaining their AFCON-bound players for this month’s potentially crucial trip to Ibrox. And Easter Road gaffer David Gray admits he wants to keep the trio of Rocky Bushiri, Miguel Chaiwa and Jordan Obita at the club for as long as their countries allow.
FIFA have already bowed to pressure from European clubs ahead of Africa’s showpiece international tournament, moving the official release date – the deadline for all players reporting for national service – back a full week from December 8 to Monday, December 15. But both Rangers and Hibs are, as things stand, likely to be caught out by their Scottish Premiership fixture in Glasgow being moved back 24 hours.
With Danny Rohl’s men travelling to take on Ferencvaros away on Thursday, December 11, they cannot play on the Saturday. And the Premier Sports Cup Final being at Hampden on the Sunday prompted the SPFL to move the game back until the Monday night - by which point all players taking part in AFCON should be in camp and preparing for the tournament.
Summer signing Chaiwa will join Bushiri and Obita at tournament in Morocco
Through no fault of their own, being forced to play on the release date COULD see Bushiri, Chaiwa and Obita miss out for Hibs, with the trio representing the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Uganda, respectively. Rangers, meanwhile, may be without Nasser Djiga and Mohamed Diomande.
Asked today if he was aware of when his trio of first-teamers would be heading off for a tournament that begins in Morocco on December 21, Gray said: “Well, not exactly. I think that's an ongoing sort of communication just now between club and countries. Because of our game being moved to the Monday night, the Rangers game.
“I think initially they were all pretty much settled on going on the Sunday after the game on the Saturday. Because that's been moved to the Monday, we're still working with them to work out the best thing.
“A few nations are looking at maybe some friendlies in between and trying to get players. I understand that they want to get the players over as early as they can. Clearly, I want to keep them as long as I can.
“So we’re trying to find somewhere in between and making sure we get the right decision. But nothing's concrete yet.
“There is communication going on at the moment. But nothing's going to change between now and this weekend.”
Admitting that a doubt over Obita’s fitness, on top of a confirmed ankle injury for Nicky Cadden, might leave him with a problem at left wingback for tomorrow’s home game against Falkirk, Gray said: “So we'll just have to wait and see. Obviously, we're not going to take a risk with Nicky as well because Jordan definitely going away. So we'll just look at how we can adapt from there.
“We know we're going to lose Jordan for a period with the Africa Cup of Nations. We know we're going to lose Miguel. We know we're going to lose Rocky as well.
“So the squad will be ready for that. And we just need to make sure that we try and keep everybody else as healthy as we can.”
Zach Mitchell January talks looming
Insisting that it wouldn’t “necessarily” require a change of shape if his options at wingback were limited, Gray also addressed Charlton’s concerns over centre-half Zach Mitchell’s lack of game time since arriving at Hibs on loan. Charlton boss Nathan Jones says he’s considering other options in January, with Mitchell – who spent the second half of last season on loan to St Johnstone - yet to make a competitive appearance for Hibs.
Gray urged patience, saying: “I've not actually looked at the (Jones) comments at all. But I'd understand why he's talking about him. If he's obviously sent the player out on loan and he’s not played any minutes just now.
“In five minutes' time, Rocky's going to be going to the Africa Cup of Nations, remember. Zach’s been very unfortunate because of the players that are in front of him at this moment in time. Which he also knew when he came to the football club, that it was going to be really difficult for him.
“He has to keep working hard. One thing I would say is, every single day he's been top professional. Works really hard.
“He’s doing the right things every day. He needs to be patient, to wait for his opportunity. Which will come at some point, I'm sure.
“And I'm definitely not disappointed with what we've brought in. Or looking to change at all.
“But I fully understand if the shoe's on the other foot. That if I send a player out on loan, the idea for going out on loan is to get game time.
“He’s a young boy that will have aspirations to go and play. So I'm sure come January there might be a conversation.
“That will be driven by what we think is right. And what he thinks is right for his career.
“But certainly at this moment in time, there's no desire to change it or disappointment from my point of view at all. He's doing well in terms of every single day.
“Everything we were told he would be like, we've certainly seen. And he just has to be patient. Which he has been. And keep doing the things he's doing every day.”