Jack Ross benched transfer targets Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Porteous but is confident that they will still be at Hibs when the transfer window closes.
The Easter Road outfit have turned down multi-million bids from Birmingham City for Nisbet and Porteous for Millwall.
Ross, who wanted to take them out of the spotlight for Saturday’s win at Dundee United, confirmed that accepting the bids so late in the window would cause his club a headache.
He said:“I would expect them to be with me on Monday. That’s where I think it’s at.
“As I said, things can change very quickly.
“They are sensible valuations and respectful.
“The club has its valuation and is conscious of where we’re trying to get to this season and how that affects it, particularly so late on in a window.
“You try and have your back up plan ready but obviously the longer the window goes the chances of that being implemented become slimmer as well.”
Ross felt that it was better to give the pair some breathing space after days of intense speculation.
He explained: “I just felt they are both young footballers but also young men.
“It’s been an unusual couple of days for them to be the subject of concrete interest and also the amount of attention that goes with that.
“I felt it was a judgement call in terms of taking them out.
“They were both ok and it’s my job as manager to judge that. If they are still with me on Monday, which I think they will be, then it becomes normal from there.”
