Stevie Mallan reacts on social media as Hibs midfielder faces two months out after surgery on knee injury

Midfielder sustained injury during Boxing Day derby win and missed winter training camp

Stevie Mallan faces up to two months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery

Hibs midfielder Stevie Mallan has given fans an update on his current condition following the news he will be sidelined for around two months as he recovers from surgery on a knee injury.

The 23-year-old, who went under the knife on Tuesday, posted an image on social media of his heavily-bandaged knee as he played FIFA 20 at home, with the caption: "Set up for the next while."

Mallan has been out of action since the Boxing Day win over Capital rivals Hearts at Tynecastle and remained in Edinburgh to undergo treatment while his team-mates flew out to Estepona in Spain for the club's winter training camp.

The former Scotland Under-21 international, who has three goals and four assists from 26 matches in all competitions this term, is scheduled to return to the club's East Mains training base on Thursday to begin a rehabilitation programme, ruling him out of Sunday's trip to Tannadice to face Dundee United in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

He will also miss the Scottish Premiership games against Hamilton Accies at Easter Road on 22 January; Motherwell at Fir Park on 25 January; the visit of former club St Mirren on 1 February and the midweek trip to face Rangers at Ibrox on 5 February.

Mallan told Hibs' official website: “It’s an important part of the season with some exciting games coming up, so I’m disappointed to be ruled out for a few weeks.

“The surgeon was pleased with how everything went, and I know I’ll be in safe hands at the Hibernian Training Centre.

“I’ve been given two months as a rough guide, but I’ll throw myself into the programme that’s been drawn up for me and see where it takes me.

“It goes without saying that I wish the boys all the best in the meantime and I’m looking forward to getting back out there with them."

Hibs head coach Jack Ross admitted earlier this month that Mallan's injury could have a bearing on the club's January transfer window business.

He said: "Stevie had an issue with his knee prior to me coming to the club, it had been troubling him a little bit but he is a good type in terms he tends to train and play through things.

“We’ve managed it a little bit but he aggravated it right at the end of the game at Tynecastle and he did not recover immediately from it so there was no point in him coming out here [to Spain].

"It might change what we want from the club through the window [given] Stevie has his own individual qualities."

The former Barnsley man has made 74 appearances for the Easter Road side since joining from the Tykes in July 2018.

He was voted the Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at the club's awards ceremony at the end of the 2018/19 season having struck 13 goals and laid on 11 more for his team-mates in the league, Scottish Cup, Betfred Cup and Europa League campaigns.