Hibs are back in Premiership action on Thursday night after a four-and-a-half week World Cup break when Lee Johnson’s side head to Ibrox to take on Rangers.
With just one win in our last seven domestic matches many fans are beginning to look over their shoulders at the teams below us in the bottom six rather than up the table towards European qualification.
The Hibees have Rangers, Livingston, Celtic and Hearts to play in our four games over the festive period so it’s set to be a difficult return to competitive football for the men in green and white – at a time when we are in dire need of some positive results.
In two friendlies during the break Kevin Nisbet has returned to action following his lengthy spell on the sidelines, gaining some important minutes against Middlesbrough and Raith Rovers in recent weeks.
With goals proving hard to come by for the side since early October there will be a lot of weight resting on Nisbet’s shoulders, with hopes that he’ll be able to get off to a fast start when he retakes his place in the side.
Long-time absentee Aiden McGeady also featured against Raith Rovers in his first appearance for the club since Norwich City’s visit to Easter Road back in July, while Harry McKirdy and Will Fish also got some more experience under their belts.
Despite Kevin Nisbet’s return to the first team fold, the World Cup break has dealt a number of squad-related blows to the club with Martin Boyle ruled out for the rest of the season, Ryan Porteous set to leave in January after rejecting the offer of a new contract and Mykola Kukharevych unable to feature in either of the mid-season friendlies after missing out on the chance to play for Ukraine U21s due to injury.
With everything considered, and with the team sitting in eighth place in the SPFL Premiership table, there are a huge few weeks coming up for Lee Johnson and his squad ahead of the January transfer window opening.
Looking forward to Rangers, it appears to be a big ask for the side to get anything from the game with the Ibrox club set to begin the Michael Beale era on Thursday. If we are to pick up points this week, Johnson will have to have learned lessons from our visit to Celtic Park earlier in the season where we were turned over 6-1.
We’ll need our defensive players to put in some big performances and we’ll need to take our chances when we get them. If Kevin Nibset is set to start, it’ll be hugely important that our midfielders and wide players give him some quality service otherwise it could be a cold night for him up front in Glasgow.
There are decisions to be made at the back, with Johnson suggesting no notes of interest have been received for Ryan Porteous who looks set to leave the club if an appropriate offer is received for his services in January.
Whether it’s a back three or back four, Porteous’ inclusion – or not – will be something to look out for on Thursday and will give us a good indication of Johnson’s thinking for the period of time Porteous remains a Hibs player.
While it seems likely that Paul Hanlon and/or Rocky Bushiri will partner Porteous in defence should he play, Will Fish was included in the starting XI for both of the recent friendlies and could be set to see more time on the pitch if and when Porteous departs.
With the opposition over the next couple of weeks in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Joe Newell and Nohan Kenneh feature heavily in midfield during the festive period but there are plenty of decisions to be made further forward.
Kukharevych’s fitness will certainly have an impact on team selection but there are lots of combinations of Josh Campbell, Kyle Magennis, Ewan Henderson, Harry McKirdy, Elie Youan and Elias Melkersen which could make up the supporting line behind Kevin Nisbet in the next four matches.
A couple of positive results over the festive period would give the club a much-needed boost during a disappointing season so far, with attentions set to turn to the incomings and outgoings of the transfer window which is just around the corner.
If results don’t go our way, and they continue in the direction in which they travelling before the World Cup, things could become really unenjoyable and the transfer window even more important.
After a much-needed break from Hibs we’re back with a bang on Thursday night.
We’ve been to Ibrox before without a hope and come home with three points, here’s to a positive result and a turn in fortunes going into the new year.
The East Stand 