Hibs boss Jack Ross reveals paucity of his Easter Road squad

The Hibs manager was without six first-team stars in midweek

Jack Ross has revealed his squad was down to the bare bones as they faced Ross County in the Premiership, with every available player stripped for action.

Midfielder Melker Hallberg called off ill only hours before kick-off, placing further strain on Ross’s options which were already limited by the long-term injuries to Stevie Mallan, Ryan Porteous and Jason Naismith while Lewis Stevenson and Steven Whittaker were rested to allow them to recover from knocks.

But the Easter Road head coach praised his players for their “terrific application” following the 3-0 in what was the club’s eighth game in just 25 days.

Hibs manager Jack Ross. Picture: SNS

He said: “It’s been quite a punishing schedule and the fact we’ve only suffered one defeat is testament to the players, the whole squad, because we’ve had to change the team and

rotated things.

“But every time we have made changes they have been, by and large, positive and players coming off the bench have had an impact.

“Melker would have been involved in the squad against Ross County but he reported ill late in the afternoon so that was a late change. Everybody stripped were the ones

available.

“We’ve been trying to nurse people through this period. Lewis and Steven were not available, it was a chance to keep them fresh for Sunday and beyond. We’ve tried to manage the group and so far we have done okay – but that’s down to the players, throughout this period their application has been terrific.”

Although he was happy to see his side claims goals through Marc McNulty, Christian Doidge and Adam Jackson – and to keep a clean sheet – Ross admitted some of his forward-thinking players were frustrated they hadn’t scored more.

He told Hibs TV: “We got in so many good areas but that part of the game is the hardest, the most difficult to coach because it comes down to the ability they have in that final third.

“We had to find a way to get the front two plus Scott Allan, plus Martin Boyle into the same team. We did that and it paid off. It’s exciting for us when we play that way, we know we are going to carry a goal threat.”