Hibs will be missing as many as eight players for Sunday’s clash at home to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
After a period of poor form, manager Shaun Maloney has Hibs on the right track again with two successive victories going into this weekend’s match, but his injury crisis isn’t going any better.
In fact, he was a disappointed man today providing a squad update ahead of Celtic’s visit to Easter Road, confirming he’s now missing eight first-team players.
Paul Hanlon, Paul McGinn, Joe Newell, Demetri Mitchell, Harry Clarke and Kyle Magennis are all out of action, recently joined by Elias Melkersen and James Scott.
As quoted by The Edinburgh Evening News, Maloney said: “Unfortunately, the same six players are still out and they are senior players. We’ve also lost Elias and James through illness, which is a shame.
“It’s a shame because Elias was progressing, and James Scott brings something to us that I see as a coach. In certain moments in matches, he brings that speed and that power to finish games.
“It is a blow for Elias because he was really progressing and starting to really fight for that number nine shirt with Kevin Nisbet and Christian Doidge.”
Celtic meanwhile should be relatively well-rested and ready for the challenge on Sunday lunchtime.
Ange Postecoglou chose to leave out a number of starters from his Thursday night team with only Kyogo Furuhashi and David Turnbull being our long-term absentees.
It’s no guarantee of victory of course. Celtic have to up the performance levels of the first half in Norway to get ahead vs Hibs, who won’t make it easy in a live television game.
It’s been a difficult venue for us in recent years and while we were successful there last time this is very much one of the tougher games on our schedule.
In other news, Celtic referee appointments confirmed for Hibs and St Mirren after last week’s debacle.
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