Deegan may miss only two games

Hibs star Gary Deegan could be out of action for as little as a month and miss just two matches after having his jaw broken in an unprovoked attack on a city centre street, the Evening News has learned.

The 24-year-old was assaulted outside a nightspot in George Street in the early hours of Saturday morning following a night out with team-mates as Pat Fenlon’s side moved to the top of the SPL with a 3-0 win against Dundee.

He underwent surgery the next day and an initial estimation of how long he’d be sidelined given as between four and six weeks.

If Deegan’s recovery proves to be at the lower end of that timescale he could, conceivably, be back in Fenlon’s plans for the visit of St Mirren on November 3 meaning that, with this weekend’s international break, the steely midfielder may only sit out the visits to Ross County and Motherwell.

Hibs, however, won’t rush the former Coventry City ace and if he requires the full six weeks to make a full recovery then he may not be ready for a comeback until Hibs travel to face Dundee on November 17 meaning he’d also miss the trip