The eight dilemmas facing Jack Ross ahead of Hibs' trip to Motherwell

Hibs travel to Motherwell next weekend on league duty looking for a vital three points in their quest for European football and at the very least, a top-four finish.
Jack Ross may have a few decisions to make ahead of Saturday's trip to MotherwellJack Ross may have a few decisions to make ahead of Saturday's trip to Motherwell
Jack Ross may have a few decisions to make ahead of Saturday's trip to Motherwell

But before they think about how to achieve victory at Fir Park there are a number of questions, dilemmas; even issues that need addressed before the journey to ML1.

The Hallberg / Mallan question

There is a bit of a dilemma in midfield at the moment: Stevie Mallan and Joe Newell are too similar, and Mallan's presence blunts Newell's effectiveness. When Melker Hallberg was brought on early in the second half against Dundee with Mallan making way (much to his bemusement), Hibs looked better in the middle of the park. Hallberg has only started one league game this term - the 1-0 home defeat against Aberdeen – but his presence could be pivotal to Newell pulling the strings again.

The Gogic poser

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Jack Ross appeared to concede that taking off Alex Gogic against St Johnstone to bring on Christian Doidge may have been a mistake. The Cypriot internationalist was an unused substitute as Hibs laboured to a 1-0 win against Dundee but could the former Hamilton man win his starting berth back for the trip to Fir Park to face Motherwell?

The formation dilemma

Given that Motherwell won the midfield battle the last time the two teams met, it is likely that Jack Ross will tinker with his engine room ahead of next weekend’s visit to North Lanarkshire. But does he do a straight swap – Gogic for Mallan – or does he alter the formation to add another central midfielder – Hallberg, for example - and match the Steelmen?

The Doidge predicament

When the Welshman is on form he is virtually unplayable. There was a spell last season when he couldn’t stop scoring – the ball would go in off his shoulder, his shin, any part of his body. But he hasn’t scored in green and white since the September 2-2 draw with Rangers. His hold-up play is excellent, and Hibs don’t have another player to fill that role, but Kevin Nisbet can't carry the goalscoring can himself and when neither forward is at the races, the team starts looking a little toothless up front.

The Boyle factor

Wingers are by nature inconsistent but Boyle has been frustratingly hot and cold this season. When he’s hot he tends to change games, such as his double against Kilmarnock on opening day, or his brace of assists against Rangers in the 2-2 draw, or Dundee in the 4-1 Betfred Cup group win but when he’s cold, Hibs look less dangerous down that right side.

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His ability to change games in Hibs' favour could be vital this season with the Easter Road side just four points off second – but he needs to start heating up his performances more regularly. Next weekend at Motherwell, where he has scored the winner in the past, would be a great time and place to start.

The Gullan head-scratcher

Earlier this season Jamie Gullan was playing back-up to Doidge and Nisbet who had formed an effective partnership early doors so when the chance came for the versatile attacker to get a run wide left, it looked like a solution had been found. But with left winger Jamie Murphy currently Hibs’ most potent attacking threat Gullan has found himself back at square one in terms of minutes on the pitch. He always looks a threat when coming off the bench but at the moment he doesn't start over Doidge, Nisbet, or Murphy and yet the only way he can kick on is with gametime… and a loan deal is out of the question because it leaves Hibs light up front. At the moment his chance will only come if Murphy is unfit / unavailable or one or other of the centre-forwards hit such a bad run of form that Ross is forced to shake things up. The ball is in Gullan’s court to prove to Ross he deserves more of an opportunity regardless of other scenarios over which he has no control.

The defensive conundrum

It wasn’t so long ago that all and sundry were extolling the virtues of Hibs’ settled back four; an Easter Road rearguard that looked cohesive, miserly, and well-drilled. But in recent weeks a combination of injury and self-isolation periods has prompted alterations with the knock suffered by Paul Hanlon in the 2-2 draw with St Johnstone the latest issue. The main problem at the moment is that without Hanlon, Hibs lack a ball-playing centre-half, and it shows. Just as there are no other players able to fulfil the hold-up role that Doidge performs to great effect, there are no able deputies in defence capable of emulating Hanlon’s long diagonal passes and ability with the ball. On top of that, although Ryan Porteous and Darren McGregor kept a clean-sheet against Championship side Dundee, they were decidedly less comfortable against Premiership St Johnstone, who beat Motherwell at Fir Park yesterday. Jack Ross will hope Hanlon is fit for next weekend but if not, are there other realistic defensive combinations available? A quick glance at the bench would suggest there aren’t. Whichever back four is selected next weekend will need to be on top form in what could turn out to be a key game in the race for a top-four finish and it may be that Ross has to focus on getting a result from the game rather than playing pretty football.

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