Hibs’ striker Farid El Alagui returned to competitive action today, scoring for Hibs Development squad in their 2-2 draw against St Mirren at the Training Centre.
El Alagui has not featured since late August after rupturing his achilles against Alloa Athletic on their astroturf pitch.
This game was due to have been played at Spartans Ainslie Park however since that is also an artificial surface, the game was moved to East Mains to allow El Alagui to play on grass.
Jordan Sinclair gave Hibs the lead in the 29th minute before El Alagui added a second six minutes later.
Robbie Mitchell pulled one back moments later then Thomas Reilly grabbed an equaliser in the last minute.
After the game, U20 Development Coach Joe McBride told the club website: “I was disappointed to see them concede in the last minute, but I was more disappointed with the performance for most of the game.
“We’ve set reasonable standards especially over the last few weeks and I don’t think we reached anywhere near that today. Losing a last minute goal is not great, but overall, just disappointed today.”
“Possibly not playing last week had an effect, but it is no excuse. It was a nice pitch, nice day and for once the wind had disappeared from here for once so it was great.
“We just have to admit that we never played well, there was no fluency today at all in the team.”
The Hibernian Development Team are in action next week away to Dundee United at Station Park, Forfar with a 2pm kick-off.
The Developlemt squad’s rearranged games against St Johnstone and Heart of Midlothian will be Friday 20 March at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium, kick-off at 2pm and the last mini-Derby of the Development League season will take place at New Victoria Park, Newtongrange, also with a scheduled 2pm kick-off, 9 April.
Hibernian under-20s: Kleton Perntreou, Aaron Dunsmore (Ben Stirling, 45), Callum Crane, Neil Martyniuk, Jordan McGregor, Aaron Scott, Scott Martin, Jordan Sinclair (Kevin Waugh, 63), Farid El Alagui (Oliver Shaw, 45), Taylor Hendry, Conner Duthie. Unused substitutes: Alan Combe.
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.
