Hibs player set to return for Aberdeen trip as Lee Johnson gives update on injured duo

Hibs manager Lee Johnson expects to have Demetri Mitchell available for Friday night’s trip to Aberdeen on cinch Premiership duty – but two players are nursing fresh injuries keeping them out of action for the foreseeable.

Mitchell came on as a second-half substitute during the 6-1 defeat by Celtic in Glasgow but was left out of the Easter Road squad completely for the 3-0 victory over St Mirren. However, the former Manchester United youngster trained this week and should be part of the squad travelling to Pittodrie for the evening kick-off.

“Demetri Mitchell missed the St Mirren game through illness, so he’ll be back and available for Friday, and Elias Melkersen came on last weekend so he’s obviously back,” Johnson said, as he previewed the third-versus-fourth encounter.

"Lewis Miller has a new, different injury – he came back from his hamstring issue, took part in a couple of training sessions but slipped on the grass and did something to the back of his knee, so that’s a tricky one and he’s not available. Jake Doyle-Hayes is still recovering from his operation, and Aiden McGeady and Kevin Nisbet aren’t quite there yet either.”

Harry McKirdy was also omitted from the matchday group for the Buddies clash but there was nothing sinister in his absence despite a social media interaction with a fan of former club Swindon Town that angered some sections of the Hibs support and led to sit-down talks between club and player.

It is now likely that injury will keep the ex-Robins striker from featuring again until after the World Cup. With Martin Boyle also a doubt for the fixture against Jim Goodwin’s side, there could be a return to the starting XI for either Melkersen or Élie Youan to partner Mykola Kukharevych in attack on Friday. Momodou Bojang is back training but has played just 44 minutes in all competitions, all as a substitute.

"Harry is doing alright, it’s been a bit stop-start for him. He had an ankle injury and missed a bit of training; he was injured and missed a lot of pre-season training and now he’s picked up a slight thigh strain. It’s disappointing,” Johnson admitted.

"We wanted to get him a run of training and games on the back of that but he’s a couple of weeks away, unfortunately.”