Former Bristol City manager Lee Johnson is recovering after undergoing emergency Gallbladder removal surgery which will cause him to miss Hibernian’s game against Kilmarnock this weekend.
Scottish Premiership club Hibs have confirmed that Johnson, who served as City boss from 2016-2020, was taken ill this week and underwent the procedure at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but is not well enough to take charge of the team on Saturday.
Gallbladder removal is a relatively straightforward procedure which is conducted to remove gallstones. It takes around two weeks for patients to recover and return to work.
“I’d like to thank all the staff in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, especially the Hibs fans that looked after me along the way,” Johnson said. “I’m hoping to make a swift recovery and be back in the dugout as quickly as possible.
“Having never missed a game previously in management, obviously I’m frustrated at not being able to be physically attending Easter Road tomorrow. However, I am 100% with every player, staff member, and supporter in spirit to fight for a very important three points. GGTTH.”
Former City defender and coach, and Johnson’s No2 at Hibs, Jamie McAllister, will take charge of the team alongside fellow assistant Adam Owen with the pair supported by first-team coach David Gray.
Hibs have made an underwhelming start to the 2022/23 Scottish domestic season with just one league win, two draws and two defeats to lie eighth in the table. They’ve also lost both their games at Easter Road in the Premiership and were eliminated by Championship side Greenock Morton in the League Cup.
Hibs are Johnson’s second job since he was dismissed from his post at Ashton Gate in the summer of 2020 after failing to reach the play-offs. He was also in charge of Sunderland for 78 matches, winning the EFL Trophy in 2021 before being dismissed in February this year.
During his time at City he led the Robins to the semi-finals of the League Cup during the 2017/18 campaign after successful staving off relegation in his debut season.
Johnson helped turn City into a consistent and competitive Championship side but despite increasing investment in the first-team, mitigated by the sale of a number of key players, he was unable to make the leap from top-10 outfit to play-off team, hence his departure.
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