Hibs’ New Zealand born right back Andrew Blake is desperate to remain fully fit as he attempts to get more minutes on the park after suffering an Achilles injury while on loan to Edinburgh City last season.
His comeback to competitive football in August ended after he sustained a further injury playing for Hibs’ Colts in the Irn Bru Cup away to Dundee Colts.
The next challenge for the Hibs’ Development Squad in this year’s SPFL Reserve League is a trip away to Kilmarnock on Monday 29 October, with the game kicking off at 2pm at Rugby Park.
He told Hibernian Media: “The first competitive game for the Development Squad was in the Irn Bru Cup, I had only played pre-season games before then, so it was actually my first competitive game coming back from my Achilles injury and I only played 25 minutes before getting injured again.
“When I came on against Hearts that was about a year since I had done my Achilles. Playing 25 minutes of competitive football in a year was not great, so all I need to do now is pin my ears back and work hard to stay fit for the upcoming games.”
“Every game is vital for me. I need to be getting minutes,” Andrew said. He continued: “We’re playing Kilmarnock on Monday and they’re a decent side, so it will be another competitive match for me.
“I’ve noticed that Kilmarnock have a good side in the Reserve League so that will be a good test for us as a group.
“If I can play in the match then that would be great.”
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.
