Hibs may be facing a striker ‘crisis’ for their match against St Mirren this weekend.
Experienced frontman Dwight Gayle was ruled out of the draw with Dundee United due to injury after starting the Edinburgh derby against Hearts.
His replacement, Mykola Kuharevich, was then sent off at Easter Road and so is now suspended for the visit of the Buddies on Saturday.
Summer signing Kieron Bowie remains sidelined with a lengthy injury and so their options are limited.
One option could be Elie Youan, but his situation is an interesting one.
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Elie Youan could have annoyed Hibs manager David Gray
The Frenchman looked to be on his way out of Easter Road with a bid tabled from an unnamed side in his homeland and interest from Stoke City.
The Hibees decided not to cash in for around £2million but now be regretting that as the 25-year-old fails to really contribute.
He has made five appearances in the Premiership, three being starts and one of which he was hooked at half time in.
After coming off the bench for just one minute against the Tangerines, Youan posted a picture collage of himself with previous manager Lee Johnson. Some took that to be a dig at current boss David Gray.
Former Hibees striker Tam McManus says Youan would have been one they could turn to on Saturday but fears he may have earned the wrath of his manager.
He said in the Daily Record: “They now face St Mirren at home this weekend with a striker crisis if Dwight Gayle isn’t fit. Kuharevich is suspended and Kieron Bowie is still injured, which is a real shame.
“They could look at Elie Youan though the middle – unless he’s p***ed the manager off with his latest social media activity. I saw he’d put three pictures of himself and Lee Johnson on Instagram the other day after being dropped to the bench against United.
“I’m not sure what that is all about but all it does is feed the gossipmongers. When you’re bottom of the league and not had a particularly good season, then you should avoid social media at all costs.
“Get your head down, improve your performances and start winning games. Otherwise you’re making yourself a target for the fans.”
Tam McManus on Hibs struggles
What is worse about the dearth of attacking options for the weekend is it’s a game the Hibees could really do without winning.
They moved back to the bottom of the Premiership with that draw and now haven’t won in almost two months since beating St Johnstone.
They’re in dire need of a result from somewhere.
We told how Hibs have now lost nine goals in the last 15 minutes of games this season and as a result given up 11 points from winning positions.
They would be level on points with third-placed Rangers if they’d managed to avoid those late concessions.
McManus added: “They’ve thrown away so many points in the last few minutes of games lately that fans will be pulling their hats over their eyes at 85 minutes. Panic must set in among the players every time they go into the final stages of a game level or even a goal ahead.
“I’ve been there. It’s like a scar that’s hard to get rid of. It can’t be allowed to go on.
“If they can’t get themselves a two-goal cushion, then Hibs need to see one of these games out. It needs to happen against the Buddies.”