Hibs' formation and personnel left up in air: What does Jack Ross do in Betfred semi-final?

On Saturday, Hibs will look to take that next step and progress beyond the semi-final stage of a major cup competition at the third successive time of asking when they face St Johnstone at Hampden in the Betfred Cup.

Christian Doidge (left) and Kevin Nisbet during training but will there be room in Hibs cup line-up for both? Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group

They will do so with reinforcements, giving manager Jack Ross pause for thought as he watches his players in training this week.

As Hibs burst out the blocks at the beginning of the season, there was a familiarity to the starting XI, with nine of the side almost ever present during that time.

Predicting the team at that stage was fairly straightforward and the results encouraged that consistency of selection.

Injuries, Covid precautions, illness and, eventually, international obligations forced greater reshuffling. However, it was clear that when all options were at his disposal, Ross had a pretty clear idea of what he considered his best, most balanced side was, from personnel to formations as he combined a resolute defence from front to back with the ability to carve out and convert scoring opportunities.

That clarity became more clouded towards the end of the year as Ross tinkered with the set-up as injuries, performances and results demanded his attention. Now he also has new signings to consider, deciding whether they are ready to walk into the starting line up for such a big game. Whichever way he goes, what the arrival of Matt Macey, Jackson Irvine and Chris Cadden does is ensure he has stronger options on the bench and greater flexibility once the game gets under way.

The return of both Ofir Marciano and Kyle Magennis to first team training also bolsters the choice, while the extra minutes in training and in the last couple of matches have helped get Jamie Murphy closer to full form and fitness. Joe Newell, who is always one of the first names on the teamsheet but had left the field early against Celtic complaining of a groin niggle, sat out Saturday’s triumph over Kilmarnock as a precaution, but is expected to be available for Hampden.

Cases in defence

Which leaves Ross with one of his biggest selection headaches of this term, as he decides on formation and on personnel for arguably the most important game of the season so far.

If Marciano comes through this week unscathed, he is likely to be his gaffer’s first choice in goal, while Paul McGinn, Ryan Porteous and Paul Hanlon have been Ross’ go-to men in defence, the decision will be who to play on the left side.

In the first meeting with St Johnstone back in August, young Josh Doig was the man in position and he has recently returned to the starting line-up ahead of Lewis Stevenson and Sean Mackie, who featured in the next head-to-head with the Perth side when Doig’s form had dipped and Stevenson was injured.

Doig was impressive at the weekend against Kilmarnock, giving the side forward momentum on the flank as well as performing his defensive duties.

Midfield and attack

In front of that back line, there will most likely be a new-look grouping and exactly who makes the cut will partly be influenced by his choice of who to play up top.

Operating with a lone striker, as Ross has quite often done in recent times, would allow him an extra body in midfield but, on the big Hampden pitch, it would ask a lot of top scorer Kevin Nisbet or Christian Doidge, who looked good when he came on against Kilmarnock.

Going one up front hasn’t always worked for the team, given the industry of both main strikers and their willingness to drop deep, leaving numbers scarce in the box.

That is where the wide men come into it. Most would concede that Drey Wright has not hit the ground running at Hibs since his summer signing, out wide or in a more central role.

But, a fit Murphy has guile and experience and has been a bonus. On the other wing, Martin Boyle – while not at his best these days – offers pace and another way of getting beyond the Saints defence. That threat also plants a seed of doubt in the mind of his opposite number.

The arrival of Cadden gives Ross an alternative on that flank, although the fact he was give just eight minutes at the weekend, suggests this weekend may come too soon for a starting berth and he may be asked to show what he can contribute to such a big occasion as a substitute.

Newell and Gogic

Centrally, Newell is a guaranteed starter provided he is nursing no ill-effects from that groin complaint. The question is who and how many will be in there with him.

Alex Gogic was the obvious answer earlier in the season, providing the defensive cover in the preferred 4-4-2. He also played well at the weekend. But, struggling to find the right balance between a quest for clean sheets and the creativity needed in attack, Ross has given a number of central midfielders their chance, from Gogic to Stevie Mallan, who has proved more influential as a sub, and Wright to Melker Hallberg, whose running and more rounded contribution had given him possession.

New signing Jackson Irvine looks like he could be the answer. Despite not playing competitively since March, he walked into the team at the weekend and impressed in a more advanced role.

It is a decent bet that both he and Newell will feature and the rest will come down to formation. It is more likely that Ross will go for the extra body in midfield, as he has in the previous two meetings with Callum Davidson’s side. That would probably give Gogic the nod. It would also leave his other main striker with something to prove if he gets on.

But, at least when he looks around at his bench, Ross will have more of the strength in depth he has been craving.

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