Hibs manager Jack Ross has confirmed that Christian Doidge will be involved in tomorrow’s Premier Sports semi-final clash with Rangers – but the Hibees will be without midfielder Kyle Magennis for the “foreseeable future”.
Doidge has sidelined since August after suffering an Achilles injury but the Welsh striker will be involved at some stage as the Hibees look to extend their 42-year unbeaten run over Rangers at the national stadium.
(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
However, after off at half-time in the 1-0 win over St Johnstone in late September, the midfielder remains on the injured list as Ross admits there’s no timescale on his return yet.
Before his injury, Hibs hadn’t lost a domestic game but have since gone on to lose four on the bounce and Ross hopes his side can cope without his absence tomorrow.
“Christian will be involved in the squad – he has trained and played 45 minutes of a bounce game this week. We are really pleased with where he’s at,” Ross said.
“Kyle won’t be back available for the foreseeable future. Hopefully pre-winter break but at the moment I can’t give a definitive on when he’ll return which is a blow for him and for us.
“It’s not so much a setback, just that there’s been no resolution of the issue he has. It’s frustrating for him and for me because it’s not something that we believed would rule him out for a significant period. But it has done already.
“We’re disappointed because we’ve not lost a [domestic] game he has played in this season.
“That shows the impact he has in the team and how we play. We have to find another way and that’s what we have used this time for – ensuring we do that starting on Sunday.”
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