Kyle Magennis insists Lee Johnson's Hibs outburst 'came out worse than it was' with the players already aware who had a future at Easter Road.
The Hibees gaffer is planning to overhaul his underperforming squad and didn't hold back in his criticism of his side following the 3-0 derby defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle. The latest loss made it nine defeats in 11 matches with the club sliding down the table. At one point they occupied third but the are now as low as eighth and looking over their shoulders.
Johnson said he has too many 'average squad' players and would rather trade off ten of them for that one player of high quality. He's admitted mistakes over recruitment in the summer but Magennis says everyone knew ahead of the game where they stood and it wasn't a shock. He's called on Hibs to bounce back against Motherwell with everyone in 'good spirits' ahead of the Sunday clash.
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He said: "I think it's came out worse than it was, about the 10 players that need to go or whatever. He had already had individual conversations with those players previous to the game so everyone knew where they stood.
"But the way it came out, it looked like he has said 10 players need to go but it is not like that. It's not as if it was a shock that he came out in the media and said that. It happens every year, whether it is January or summer, boys need to go.
"Obviously it is difficult. In the run of games we have been on, we have lost quite a lot of them, especially losing the derby in the manner we did, it's difficult.
"But we have to stay positive and we are looking forward to Sunday [Motherwell] and hopefully can change things. Everybody is in good spirits and we are looking forward to the game on Sunday."
Magennis has struggled with injuries since his arrival in the capital in 2020 from St Mirren.
He is delighted to be back fully fit and a key part of Johnson's plans. The 41-year-old has told the midfielder his future is in Leith, which the 24-year-old admits is a major boost.
He continued: "He [Johnson] said that he likes me and he likes working with me and I have a future at Hibs.
"It is a massive boost. With my injuries I could easily have been the one that was not part of his plans but he has backed me.
"It has been hard for me in the last year or two with injuries but I am feeling good and training every day which is something. I haven't done over the last two years. It has been stop-start. I am ready to play."
Magennis helped launch the new 2022-23 SPFL Match Attax Collection, on sale now in Scottish retailers and via Topps.com
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