Exclusive:Hibs gaffer makes 'desperate' claim as attacker chases comeback in race for third place

Elie Youan is “desperate” to return to the Hibs team and make a telling contribution over the closing week of a dramatic season, according to gaffer David Gray. And the Easter Road boss admits he might be willing to “take a chance” on the Frenchman’s fitness as the European contenders look to navigate three tough games in the space of eight frantic days.

Gray, who detects no signs of wobbles among his squad ahead of this weekend’s trip to Celtic Park, has picked up on plenty of chatter about Youan during the forward’s lengthy injury absence. The 26-year-old has made just one fleeting substitute’s appearance, ironically enough in the 2-0 Scottish Cup loss away to Celtic back in March, since helping Hibs to a Boxing Day victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.

‘Attributes and qualities’ needed by Hibs in battle for European football

Asked if Youan, initially out with a toe injury later aggravated by a knee problem, was genuinely eager to return to the fray, Gray declared: “Yeah, yeah definitely. When anyone asks me to describe Elie Youan, I always say that's when he's happiest - when he's playing all the time.

“So all the other things that go on, and some people were commenting on it earlier in the season, that’s where he’s happiest – when he’s demonstrating what he can do. Nobody has been more frustrated that Elie himself, although you can add me to that list.

“But he’s desperate to get back out there. The unfortunate thing for him is he's not got that bank of training behind him to really have him firing at the top of his game. But he's also got real attributes and qualities that can definitely add something as well so it's good to have him back on available if required.

“Technically if you look at it from a best practice point of view, you would probably say he's not had any match minutes, no practice minutes, a few training sessions, he's been out for a long time. But one thing is he's very disciplined in what he does.

“So his gym work, he's very disciplined in that. He works really hard, and he's a very good athlete anyway. He's fortunate to have the genetics to be a really good athlete and, on top of that, he does things properly.

“I think it’s also a wee bit different in the forward areas as well. When you're in the more forward areas, you’re more of a reactive player rather than a defender who's a wee bit rusty.

“You can probably take a wee bit more of a chance when it comes to these forward thinking players. But we'll just have to see how he goes because we're not going to put too much expectation on him just now.”

Hibs eager to build on Easter Road win over Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic

Lewis Miller, who made the bench for last weekend’s 3-1 home win over Dundee United, has trained fully all week and is in contention to reclaim his starting place in a group with no fresh injury worries. Currently sitting three points clear of Aberdeen in third place, Gray’s men will be outsiders this weekend – but remain favourites to clinch that Best of the Rest crown behind Scotland’s big two, with all the European bonuses that is likely to bring.

The Hibs boss, who led his team to a 2-1 victory over Brendan Rodgers’ men at Easter Road, looked ahead to the Hoops clash as he said: “We've had plenty of goes at it this season, that's one thing, having been unfortunate to get Celtic in both cups. But that’s one thing I said to the players this morning, that they’re very much aware of what they’re going into.

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“It’s a test, a chance to see how far the group has come. And we’ve been better and better against them in every game.

“We've got absolutely everything still to play for in terms of what we're trying to achieve in the league. And I do feel there is that that little edge about players.

“They’re not going into the game feeling any fear. There’s definitely a steeliness about the group, which means they’re looking forward to this challenge.”

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