Hibs duo step up return as Jack Ross' men lose to Livingston in bounce game

Stevie Mallan, left, is closing in on a return to the Hibs first team.

Stevie Mallan and Sean Mackie both stepped up their return to full fitness as Hibs lost 3-0 to Livingston in a bounce game at East Mains on Wednesday.

Central midfielder Mallan has not made a competitive appearance for Hibs since Boxing Day last year against Hearts due to a knee injury, but he got valuable game-time under his belt along with Sean Mackie, who is battling back from a broken foot.

Mallan, who played the full 90 minutes against the opposition from West Lothian, made the bench for the first team last weekend against Motherwell and is now pushing for a place in head coach Jack Ross’ plans for Sunday's Premiership match away at St Johnstone.

Livingston won the match 3-0 at Hibs’ training centre thanks to strikes from Aymen Souda, Rafa de Vita and a Tom James own goal.

Both teams used the game as an opportunity to give minutes to players that had not featured heavily in the Premiership campaign so far.

Hibs: Dabrowski, Stirling, Gray, McGregor, Stevenson, Mallan, Allan, Hallberg, Mackie, F Murray, Gullan. Subs: Johnson, James, Shanley, I Murray, Yeats, Fairley.