Hibs UEFA Conference League injury latest as key men status revealed ahead of Easter Road comeback mission
‘Race against time’ for forward as attacking midfielders and wide men still sidelined
Hibs will still be without three key playmakers for tomorrow night’s UEFA Conference League comeback mission at Easter Road. But David Gray has revealed that medical staff are working hard to get forward Ante Suto fit for his team’s first competitive home game of the new season.
Suto, Jamie McGrath, Callum Wright and Nicky Cadden all missed last week’s 2-0 loss to European newcomers FC Malisehva in Pristina. Gray has just confirmed that attacking midfielders McGrath (calf injury) and Wright (quad strain) will miss tomorrow night’s attempt to overturn the two-goal deficit and secure progress to the third qualifying round.
SPFL opener against Motherwell a target for two stars
And he revealed that Cadden (calf) won’t be ready for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership opener at home to Motherwell, saying of the trio: “No, they were never down to be in this one anyway. That was always going to be just too soon.
“In terms of the weekend, we'll wait and see. Nicky won't be available for the weekend, definitely not. The other two are going in the right direction.
“But we always felt that this game was going to be too soon. You have to submit your first squad with that in mind.
UEFA squad restrictions apply
“Both (McGrath and Wright) are going in the right direction. But Nicky is still probably a week or so behind the other two, I would say.
“It'll be the same squad as the first leg. Obviously you can't add players to that anyway, you have to submit your numbers to that.
“The one that we're still trying to get back is Ante Suto (medial strain), so he's in a bit of a race against time. He was included in the squad but we knew he wouldn't be available for leg one.
“We'll just see where he goes. Might come just too soon, but we're going to do what we can to try and keep him involved. That's where we are.”