The fact that Marink Reedijk has no new injury news to report shouldn’t be taken as a sign that the new Hibs boss is completely without conundrums to consider ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with league leaders Celtic. Seeking his first victory as manager, the young Dutch coach certainly has issues in different parts of the park, as you’d expect of a team sitting bottom of the Scottish Premiership table.
Having seen both Azeem Abdulai and Thibault Klidje commit howling errors - the former technical, the latter mental - leading to goals in last weekend’s home loss to Falkirk, a result that saw Hibs plummet into last place, the temptation must be to drop both offenders as a warning to others. But sometimes coaching isn’t about doing the thing that makes you, your staff - or even the fans - feel good.
With Jamie McGrath only half an hour into his return from injury, is it possible that the Irishman could start in place of midfielder Abdulai? Possible, yes. Advisable is another matter, as the strength and conditioning staff would testify.
Klidje, a centre forward being played on the left wing, may be more vulnerable to deselection. If only because Rabbit Matondo, a player who once scored an absolute screamer to secure Rangers a draw against Celtic in a dramatic Old Firm encounter back in April of 2024. Here’s how we think Hibs will line up:
9. RW/No. 10 Martin Boyle
He may no longer wear the armband, but on-field leader still looks one of the more dangerous AND influential players in the Hibs XI. | SNS Group
10. LW Rabbi Matondo
Do you stick with Thibault Klidje? Bring in Nicky Cadden to play somewhere other than emergency left back? Or start with the free agent signing who famously scored a screamer against Celtic in a previous life? | SNS Group
11. CF Owen Elding
Hibs are short of proven strikers. And the Irishman, more at home in a supporting role, is willing to get stuck in. Could be a big afternoon for the young attacker. | SNS Group