Hibs boss Shaun Maloney fears that hot-shot striker Kevin Nisbet will be out further than the end of this season with an ACL injury sustained in the 0-0 draw with Celtic.
The Easter Road club have accepted that their star striker won't play again this season.
Cambuslang man Nisbet, 24, limped off during the draw against the league-leaders, and was seen leaving the stadium in a protective boot and using crutches.
Maloney fears that if it is an ACL injury, Nisbet could face months on the side-lines, but hopes he can come back as a better player.
He said: "We know his season is done and we have to prepare for it being longer than that.
"It doesn't look good.
"It is definitely season-ending, but it could be a lot longer than that.
"It's going to be a really big hurdle to overcome and if the injury is what we think, then other players have had similar injuries and came back even better players.
"Kevin's mind-set has to be that, whatever hurdle this is, whatever length of time it takes, he comes back a better player."
Hibs are set to be missing at least 10 first-team players for the clash against St Johnstone today.
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