Manager Jack Ross reveals why it would be wrong to base his transfer decisions on Hibs' most recent performances

Disappointed with his team’s performance in their most recent outings, Hibs manager Jack Ross said he would be foolish to base any transfer plans on those two displays alone.

Hibs' Dillon Barnes warms up after coming in as a late replacement for Ofir Marciano ahead of the club's league match against Livingston. Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group

The lack of creativity frustrated him in the side’s midweek defeat to Ross County but every area of the team proved a letdown as they followed that up with another loss, this time at the hands of Livingston, at Easter Road, on Saturday.

He made it clear that he expects better from his squad but said that does not mean he is now planning rash, widespread changes during this month’s transfer window.

“No, that would be incredibly reactive. My job is to not get too high or too low. If I did then I would change my mind on players on a bi-weekly basis.”

But he says the club remains set on adding two or three, in key positions.

“Our planning has been consistent and we do want to strengthen the squad; we need to because we are relatively low on numbers and we have had a number of players unavailable in the past few weeks and we still have a couple out. So, that is no knee-jerk reaction.”

One player who could be sidelined when the next match, against Celtic, rolls around next Monday, is goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, who has missed out in recent weeks with a tightness in his thigh. He had been due to return to the starting line-up this weekend but pulled out at the very last minute after his calf tightened up in the warm up.

While not hiding behind the injury, manager Ross explained that the enforced late reshuffle had been unsettling for everyone.

“It is not ideal preparation for the game. We lost him [Marciano] in the last few minutes before the team was due to come out but that is not a reason for us losing.

With nine days between games, the Israeli will be given every chance of getting back to full match fitness ahead of that trip to Celtic Park.

“It is the same type of injury in a slightly different area, but we have some time before the next game so we will see how he is.”

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