Hibs coach lays down challenge to players ahead of St Johnstone clash

Assistant boss Robbie Stockdale is relishing a 'big week' for Hibs

The Capital side edged into the top half of the Premiership table on goal difference with back-to-back wins against Hamilton and Dundee in new boss Paul Heckingbottom’s first two matches in charge. But now, admitted Stockdale, Saints at McDiarmid Park is a tougher proposition than those games against two clubs battling to avoid being dragged into the relegation or play-off spots. Hibs have failed to beat the Perth outfit in five matches since returning to the top flight but three points this time round, given there will afterwards only be five games to go before the split, would be a massive boost for their hopes of finishing in the top six, a goal which was beginning to look increasingly beyond them only a few weeks ago. “It’s probably boring, but we take each game as a really tough game,” insisted Stockdale. “The work that we do, video prep, the work on the training ground, the information we give the players will be the same that the players get whether we’re playing a team top of the league or bottom of the league.

“We’re not thinking any game is easier than the other. If we do our bits right then we think any game is winnable.”

Hibs face Celtic in the quarter-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup on Saturday night but, claimed Stockdale, he and Heckingbottom won’t allow that to be a distraction for their players.

He said: “Tomorrow will be a really tough game. It’s a big week, we know that. But it’s full focus on tomorrow. We’ve got into the top six and now we want to stay there. That’s the challenge we’ve set to the players.”

Stockdale also revealed midfield enforcer Marvin Bartley, out for the past four matches through injury, is back training with the first-team squad, but added: “This game  will probably come too soon for him.”