Hibs sweat over fitness of Ofir Marciano for Rangers clash - but Jack Ross has faith in deputy Dillon Barnes

Hibs will assess goalkeeper Ofir Marciano over the next 24 hours after the Israeli was forced to leave the pitch in the 57th minute of his side’s victory over St Mirren with a tight hamstring.

Dillon Barnes (left) is on stand by in case Ofir Marciano fails to recover from hamstring injury in time for tri to Ibrox. Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group

But manager Jack Ross says he will not take any chances with the international star and that means that the Easter Road side could travel to Ibrox on Boxing Day with Dillon Barnes in goal.

“Ofir had a bit of tightness in his hamstring at half-time so we knew we would have to potentially make that change,” said Ross.

“We’ll see how he recovers over the next day or so. I don’t think it’s anything too serious but we’ll not take any chances on Boxing Day, should it be the same.”

It will be a blow, but Ross insists that his second-choice keeper is good enough to slot in after impressing in Betfred Cup games while Marciano was on international duty, as well as in some recent bounce games.

‘I’ve been really pleased with Dillon since he came to the club. He played in some Betfred games and did well. He’s trained well and I’m really pleased for him because he has a young family in London so it’s not easy, at this time, for him to get back and forward and see them and the fact that he’s been as conscientious in his work, and done so well tonight, is pleasing.

‘“I have absolutely no fears about him playing on Boxing Day if required.

“We took a couple of games at the beginning this month, bounce games against Rangers and Hamilton that people might have questioned the wisdom of, because we had such a busy schedule.

“But we knew that we’d need players like Drey Wright, Melker Hallberg, Dillon during a tough period and Dillon did fine in the bounce game against Rangers. It was maybe only a handful of their regulars but he’s been good since he came to the club.

“We’ve been fortunate because it’s not an easy role to fill but I think we’ve probably got as good as we could get in Dillon.”

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