| Concerns over the fitness of Steve Lovell, Brent Sancho and Garry Brady, who missed the weekend defeat at Dunfermline, have been compounded by the news three men who did play are also doubtful.
Callum Macdonald, Bobby Mann and Stephen McNally have joined the list of those facing a fight to be ready for the visit to the capital.
In Macdonald’s case, an old knee injury has flared up, Mann suffered a groin strain at East End Park, while McNally has been laid low with a virus.
With the likes of Kelvin Jack, Ian Anderson and Neil Jablonski already ruled out, manager Jim Duffy does not have his problems to seek as he tries to put a team together to deal with one of the country’s form sides.
The Dark Blues have at least received something of a boost with the news opposition midfielder Craig Rocastle has returned to Chelsea and won’t be facing them.
The 23-year-old joined up at Easter Road in the summer on a six-month loan deal and that was expected to be extended until the end of the season.
After impressing in Edinburgh, however, and with Chelsea hit by injuries over the Christmas period, he has been told to report back to Stamford Bridge. That’s pleased Rocastle, who still believes he can make his mark with the Barclays Premiership leaders.
“Chelsea have asked me to come back down and train with them because they have got a few injuries at the moment.
“If there’s any chance for me to play in the Chelsea first team, then I don’t think anybody could begrudge me that,” he said.
“Obviously, I want to try again with Chelsea. But, if it does not work out, I would never say I wouldn’t come back to Hibs. I got on very well with the manager, the rest of the players and the fans there and I enjoyed my time in the SPL.” |
