Hibs injury concerns addressed as playmaker fitness verdict delivered ahead of UEFA Conference League clash
Boyle and Wright came off nursing knocks while McGrath, Cadden, Campbell and Suto all missed friendly win
Hibs will almost certainly be without one of their most talented and proven game breakers as they kick off the new season with a challenging European away tie. And Easter Road boss David Gray admits he’ll be playing a waiting game before making decisions on the availability of other key men for Thursday’s UEFA Conference League clash in Kosovo.
Confirming that attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath is likely to miss the first leg of his team’s second qualifying round tie against FC Malisheva, Gray explained why the Irishman joined Nicky Cadden, Josh Campbell and Ante Suto in missing today’s friendly home win over Brondby. Hibs beat the Danes 2-1 thanks to a dream debut double from new No. 9 Nathan Lowe.
Asked about new signing Callum Wright limping out of action just before half-time and fan favourite Martin Boyle being substituted after going down with a shin injury on the hour mark, Gray said: “Yeah, well Martin's just a contact, he's just got a sort of bang on the shin, so he's absolutely fine, that should settle down very quickly. He was always coming off around the 60-minute mark anyway, so that wasn't an issue at all.
“Callum's maybe one where I just have to monitor, because again he was just a tightness in his thigh. He thinks he's fit and positive, it's nothing too serious, but at the same time just sort of tightened up in that first half, and clearly we're not going to take a chance at that stage, just before half-time as well.
“So again he was one that's missed a wee bit of pre-season, at the start with a toe injury, missed the first couple of games, so he was always down just to play 45 minutes anyway. We weren’t going to take any risks, so hopefully that's nothing too significant.
“The other ones that are missing today, you've probably noticed, were Jamie McGrath, Josh Campbell and Nicky Cadden. Josh Campbell felt a little bit of tightness in his hamstring, but he's absolutely fine, so he'll train tomorrow fully, but again we weren't going to rush him today.
“Jamie McGrath and Nicky each picked up a little bit of a calf issue. Nicky will be out for a wee bit longer unfortunately, he could be a couple of weeks, maybe three weeks or so. We’ve not fully put a timescale on that one yet, but he'll definitely be longer.
“With Jamie, we're hoping it’s just days rather than weeks, but he might struggle for Thursday. In fact he probably will struggle for Thursday, add we’re certainly not going to take a risk on that one.
“Ante as well, sorry, yeah he picked up a little bit of a medial issue in training, just overstretched. We’re more positive for him, he was back on the grass doing finishing drills and things today.
“So we had hoped to try and get him in the squad today, it came just too soon, but he's going definitely in the right direction. It was a bit of a weird one really, because it's just an innocuous thing in training, but his return should be fairly quick.”
Asked if Suto could face Malisheva on Thursday, Gray said: “Potentially. Again we'll have to just see where the squad's at, probably a lot of that will be to do with making sure everybody came through today as well.
“We have done a lot of business early in the window, which has allowed us to accumulate a strong squad in terms of numbers at this moment in time. And now it's all geared up towards that competitive game.
“We’re not in a position where we'll be rushing someone to try and play. It's not as if it's the last game of the season, this is very much the first one, a big season ahead of us, so we won't be taking any risks, and making sure everybody's ready to go.”
Pleased to see Stoke City loan star Lowe score twice just days after joining Hibs, Gray said: “As a centre forward you obviously want to score goals and try and get that first goal as quickly as you can. I know it's just a friendly, but it'll do his confidence a world of good, and then just obviously helps you integrate with the players.
“I thought his level of performance was excellent, what he gives you. So I think overall I'm really pleased with where the group's at physically.
“That’s pre-season done now, and all the real stuff starts on Thursday. We can now start to really look forward to European football.”