Hibs skipper Joe Newell has suffered an injury setback as David Gray confirms the midfielder faces up to three further weeks out.
Newell hobbled off against Kilmarnock on December 29 with a groin problem as Hibs secured a 1-0 victory at Easter Road.
He over-stretched for the ball and could not play any further part. He missed the following draws against St Johnstone and Rangers but won’t be back until the Aberdeen clash on February 1.
As quoted in the Edinburgh Evening News, Gray has said that Newell will go under the knife to address the issue and admits it’s a blow for the team.
Hibs captain Joe Newell facing three weeks out injured
The Hibs boss said: “Joe’s had a bit of a setback with his groin. He’s going to require a little bit of an intervention, let’s just say, because he’s had a bit of an issue with his groin for a wee while.
“But it’s going to keep him probably out for a couple of weeks, which is a bit of a blow. He’d been managing it all season, to a point, then he had his operation, then he was out for a bit.
“But then he just re-stretched it in the Kilmarnock game just before half-time. He hadn’t felt that, and that probably put him back a wee bit.
“So we’re going to take the opportunity now, because he’s not quite able to push himself through that at this moment, to get that little bit of rest and recovery, and try and start that healing process a wee bit.
“So he’ll be a couple of weeks, maybe three weeks, which is a bit of a blow, but at least we’ve got through this really busy period just now.
“It goes back to one-game weeks after this one. So we’re hoping that he’ll be back as quick as we can.”
Elie Youan & Warren O’Hora updates
French winger Elie Youan hasn’t played since starring in the Edinburgh derby win over Hearts due to a toe injury.
Gray has now revealed the injury is taking longer than expected to heal. He said: “That’s a frustrating one because we thought he would be back well before now. But it could just be one that rapidly heals.
“He’s got a problem with his toe from impact that it’s taking longer to settle. Because a lot of your force goes through it; you don’t realise until you hurt your big toe how much important it is with your balance and stuff.
“We did think it would settle down a lot quicker than it has. But again, it’s been x-rayed, he’s had an MRI, there’s nothing significant or structural going on in there. It’s just a healing process, it’s taking longer than we’d like.
“He could go from doing very little today to coming in tomorrow feeling brand new and good to go. So, still hopeful he’ll be available for the weekend, in some capacity.
“He (Warren O’Hora) had an issue with his foot before, but nothing major, it will just settle down over time. So he was able to push through it – but it was still stiffening up at half-time and giving him discomfort.
“The benefit of him not playing the last two games will be really good for him, because he’s played a lot of football.
“But he’s fully fit and available, if selected from now, that’s him back. He’s still feeling it at times, but it’s not an issue like it was previously.”