Ross County v Hibs: Match preview and probable line-ups

Neil Lennon returns to the dugout and John McGinn is back in the midfield for Hibs' trip to Dingwall, as the Easter Road side look to keep up their good form going into the split.

Darren McGregor tussles with Billy Mckay during the last meeting between the two teams. Picture: SNS Group

Hibs have won five home matches in a row, and are unbeaten in nine. The Leithers have only lost to Celtic and Aberdeen on the road this season.

Lennon has already said he will keep faith with first-choice goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, despite the Israeli international gifting Hamilton Accies striker Marios Ogkmpoe an easy goal after spilling a routine cross.

Cammy Bell missed the midweek win over Martin Canning’s side with a calf injury but could return to the squad tomorrow - if not, Polish goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski will hold onto his spot on the subs bench.

Brandon Barker and David Gray are both nearing a return to action but the trip north comes too soon for the pair, while Ross Laidlaw and Faycal Rherras remain sidelined. Midfield pair Marvin Bartley and Martin Boyle should recover from a back and Achilles niggle respectively to face the Staggies.

County’s 4-0 thrashing of Partick Thistle in midweek will have given the Highland outfit a boost, and they’ll hope to build on that with a result against Hibs, in the same week that Chris Eagles and Inih Effiong departed the club.

The club currently sit second bottom of the top flight on goal difference, and will hope to get a result against Hibs while hoping Kilmarnock can do them a favour against the Jags.

There’s a familiar face in the County backline, with former Hibs defender Liam Fontaine expected to partner Harry Souttar in central defence while Hibs know only too well about Alex Schalk, the striker having netted the winner in the 2016 League Cup final between the two sides.

Andrew Davies sits out the second game of his two-match ban for stamping on Celtic captain Scott Brown, while caretaker managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson are also without injured duo Greg Tansey and Sean Kelly.

Last five meetings: Hibs 2-1 Ross County; Ross County 0-1 Hibs; Ross County 0-0 Hibs (County won on penalties); Hibs 1-2 Ross County, Ross County 0-2 Hibs.

Likely Ross County team (4-4-2): Fox; Fraser, Souttar, Fontaine, Melbourne; Gardyne, Routis, Draper, Lindsay; Schalk, Mckay. Subs from: McCarey, O’Brien, Lindsay, Dingwall, Curran, N’Gog, Dow, Keillor-Dunn.

Likely Hibs team (3-4-1-2): Marciano; Ambrose, McGregor, Hanlon; Boyle, McGeouch, McGinn, Stevenson; S Allan; Kamberi, Maclaren. Subs from: Dabrowski, Porteous, Whittaker, Bartley, Slivka, Swanson, F Murray, Shaw.

Referee: Bobby Madden

Kick-off: 3.00pm

Odds: Ross County 3/1 Draw 13/5 Hibs 21/20 (Odds correct at the time of writing)

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