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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Darren Johnstone

Lee Johnson hopes Hibs injury ease will help to stop the rot

Lee Johnson insists the return of key attacking players will be crucial to Hibs getting out of their rut.

Scotland striker Kevin Nisbet marked his 10 month injury lay-off with a goal in last Thursday's 3-2 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.

Playmaker Aiden McGeady also made his first outing since July at Ibrox after replacing Nisbet during the latter stages, while Magennis and McKirdy featured having been sidelined with niggling injuries.

The fixtures do not get any easier for a Hibs team who have now lost seven off their last eight games.

Livingston are the visitors on Christmas Eve, while the Leith outfit also face Celtic and Hearts either side of the calendar year.

However, Johnson is adamant that results will start to turn given the options now available to him.

The Hibs manager said: “Players back will be key but we have to build on the performances.

"When we’ve been on a low ebb like we have been, it’s the result not always the performances. 

"But I think we can go on a run, I truly believe that.

“There were a lot of positives from the Rangers game and a lot to build on. 

“You can see the work we had been doing during the break and we have to put in more minutes of the performance, we can and we will and as players come back and get sharper.

“It’s great to get those players back. That is a huge thing for us to have the likes of Nisbet back, McGeady back on the pitch, Magennis back playing, McKirdy on the pitch. It gives us options.”

Nisbet put Hibs 2-1 in front at Ibrox before Rangers rallied in the second half but Johnson hopes the marksman can now kick on following a lengthy spell out with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

He added: “He’s deserved it, you know. The physio team have worked really hard with him.

“His attitude and professionalism have been superb and it’s great for us to have a player of that quality back in the team.”

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