Jack Ross will be without at least one player for the visit of Hamilton Accies after a member of his Hibernian squad was forced into self-isolation following a positive coronavirus test.
The player, who has not yet been identified, has not been present at East Mains this week and will not be available for Saturday’s return to action after the Easter Road side’s Premiership momentum was halted by the inclement weather conditions in Dingwall.
Midfield duo Alex Gogic and Jackson Irvine have fully recovered from similar shoulder injuries sustained in the Hibees’ last league outing against Aberdeen, while Joe Newell is ready and available after a month out with a groin injury.
Hibs have scored seven times across two victories over Accies this season, their last coming in a 4-0 thumping of the Lanarkshire side in mid-December.
A fourth win in a row could open an even bigger gap to the Dons four points behind the men in green and white in the table should Derek McInnes’ side draw another blank when they host Kilmarnock.
Accies however arrive in good form having thrashed regional rivals Motherwell 4-1 in the Lanarkshire derby last weekend before holding St Mirren in Paisley during the week.
Predicted line up
Hibs’ momentum may have been slightly halted by last weekend’s whiteout, but Ross will be unlikely to be in any mind to change a winning side after three straight Premiership wins.
That means red-hot Martin Boyle continuing alongside Christian Doidge up front and Jamie Murphy slotting in behind as part of a more loose inverted winger role, the experienced forward’s running tempting two penalties out of St Mirren and Aberdeen respectively over the last three games.
Darren McGregor’s turmeric-powered comeback should see him retain his place alongside Paul Hanlon and Paul McGinn, with Ryan Porteous still forced to wait for his chance of a recall to the Starting XI.
In midfield, Gogic’s resurgent form has been aided by the running of Irvine, who had recovered from an impact injury to be fit for the aborted trip to Dingwall.
It should also give the Easter Road boss a healthy bench to choose from, with Porteous joining Kyle Magennis, fit again Joe Newell and Kevin Nisbet among the subs.
However, it remains to be seen how severely that line up will be impacted by the mystery positive test.
Predicted line up in full: Marciano, McGregor, Hanlon, McGinn, Doig, Cadden, Gogic, Irvine, Murphy, Boyle, Doidge
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