Hibs face Ian Murray’s Dumbarton at Easter Road this afternoon without two midfield players, but Head Coach Alan Stubbs is confident that his squad is big enough to cope.
With Rangers winning at Starks Park last night, Hibs dropped down to third place, but a win today would see them leapfrog the Ibrox side into second place.
Speaking to Hibs TV ahead of the game, Stubbs said: “Liam Craig is suspended for the game, Sam Stanton (pictured) has had the mumps so he hasn’t been here all week, so Sam won’t be involved in the game but apart from that we are OK.
“Lewis (Stevenson) has had a knock on his foot which he got at Ibrox but he has trained and there doesn’t seem to be any effect on that.
“Liam’s suspension is an opportunity for someone else and that’s why we have a strong squad. Competition for paces is very healthy at this moment in time.
“January was an opportunity for us to really enhance the squad we had and our policy is always quality over quantity and we have done that well and I am very comfortable in where we are with the squad. The ones we have brought in have added an edge in training and training at the moment is very good and the tempo is really good and the lads are buzzing.
“There is a real hunger to succeed and do well and it’s good to watch.
“We have to keep to the standards we have been setting. We are getting to the stage of the season where it’s all about results but in order to keep getting results we have to keep putting performances in.
Meanwhile the match ball sponsor for Saturday’s 1Call Property Checks which is owned by Hibs supporters Nick Munro and Lockie Brown.
1Call Property Checks have shown their support by sponsoring the match ball for Saturday’s game against Dumbarton. To make the day even more special Nick’s son Mason will be one of 11 mascots on Saturday and will lead the team out ahead of kick off.
Photo by John Preece
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
