Jack Ross has his say on Jamie Murphy's Hibs impact and expectations

Jack Ross talks about not wanting Hibs to simply bob about but, maintaining their buoyancy has been difficult as waves of disappointment crashed down on them over the past couple of weekends.

Hibs' Jamie Murphy tussles for possession with Aberdeen's Ross McCrorie during the league head-to-head. Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group)

Jamie Murphy was one of those who helped sink his side at Pittodrie on Friday night, allowing himself to be caught in possession in his own half, initiating the move that allowed Scott Wright to put the home side ahead.

But, such are the experienced winger’s credentials, manager Jack Ross believes he will be a key contributor to the club’s bid for success, once he gets back up to full speed.

Pockets of space

“It has been a little bit stop-start for him,” said Ross. “He was playing catch up a bit with fitness and then he picked up the minor hamstring injury. It has been frustrating for him. But when he has been fit we have had him involved because he brings a proven quality that is a little bit different to other players in wide areas because of his ability to find pockets of space.

“I think when he has consistent games there is a goal threat as well. With his quality in the final third, he will create and score. Now that he is back fit again, and hopefully gets this run of games, then he will do that for us.”

Looking for a winning mindset from his squad, he says that Murphy’s spell with Rangers, and his time down south, has galvanised his self-belief.

Single-mindedness

“You tend to find that players who have played at a good level and have done so for a period of time, which Jamie has, both here and in England, they all have an element of single-mindedness. They can show that in very different ways and it can affect their personality in very different ways but they do have a belief in their own ability.

“Jamie has that and rightly so because day in day out we see how good a player he is.

“I said [after the cup defeat] that the only way you avoid pain like that is to tread water all the time. But, we want to continually put ourselves in a position to achieve success and the more people at the club who have that mentality the better.”

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