Darren McGregor is getting back to full fitness after picking up a knee injury against Asteras Tripolis in Greece.
The popular defender has missed all of Hibs’ league matches this season and he is keen to help the team climb the table after a shock defeat to Livingston on Saturday.
Neil Lennon criticised the defending at the Tony Macaroni Arena and McGregor’s presence will add some much needed steel to the back three.
McGregor is grateful for the work that Paul Green, Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach, has him doing in the newly refurbished gym and is now hoping to start training with the team from next week with a view to being involved in the squad for the home game against Kilmarnock next Saturday.
McGregor told Hibernian Media: “I’m getting back to fitness. I’m about a week away I would say. I hyperextended my knee against Asteras team in Greece and as a precaution I have taken it easy the last couple of weeks.
“It was very disappointing to get the injury when I did. It has been well-documented that I have had problems with knees. It is worse than a defeat when you are injured to be honest. You are left in the gym with your own thoughts and it is pretty repetitive. You do just need to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel.
“I have been in the gym working hard, I’ll hopefully get a good week of running this week and then get back to training as normal with the team next week.
“Greeny (Paul Green) is great – he comes up with new torture techniques everyday for me! He puts me through the wringer, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“When you are in the gym, you are only cheating yourself if you cut corners, Greeny makes sure that when you come in that you work to your utmost and I follow it to a tee.
“It is imperative to have a strong team around you because being injured can leave you feeling down and it is physically as well as mentally taxing. To have a strong team around you that is giving you support every step of the way and devising the programmes is great.
“It’s a blessing to have and I am thankful for all their help and support.
“Hopefully I can feature. I will have a week’s running in me this week and then next week I will train with the squad as normal. From there, it’s the gaffer’s decision.
“If he feels that I look sharp then he will put me in, but if he feels I am too leggy and that I maybe still have a bit to go then he will make that call.
“I’ll always put myself up for selection. I will be back with the boys in training next week and then we’ll just take it from there.”
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.
