Keeper’s display a consolation
Back-up keeper’s fine display bodes well for Celtic
It’s not how Jordan Smith would have planned his return to the Hibs starting XI. But the experienced goalie will take any chance that comes his way – knowing that he’s got the backing of his gaffer.
As infuriated as David Gray might have been over Raphael Sallinger’s red card in Sunday’s frustrating home loss to Hearts, with the established No. 1 seriously undermining his team’s chances of hanging onto their early 1-0 lead, the Hibs boss took solace in the presence of Smith as his stand-in keeper. And he’ll have no qualms, he insists, over the veteran retaining his place against Celtic at Easter Road this weekend.
Gray, who also provided another encouraging update on Josh Mulligan’s potential availability for a four-game run-in with no room for error, if Hibs are to have any chance of catching fourth-placed Motherwell in the race for a guaranteed crack at the UEFA Conference League next season, hailed Smith for performing with distinction in his first outing since midSeptember.
“Yeah, he was excellent, as you’ve seen,” he said, adding: “For someone who’s not played, even just how he’s handled himself every single day.
“It’s easy for me to say it now, off the back of how well he’s done. But it’s not a surprise to me for him to come on and make saves, because I see it every single day in training, how he trains, how he’s reacted to finding himself in the team, then coming out of the team, and how he conducts himself every single day.
“It’s why he gets the rewards for being able to step up and play when he gets the opportunity, and that’s what he’s had to do.”
Gray continued: “He’s had to be patient, and he gets his opportunity now.”
All-action midfielder Mulligan, who had earned his first Scotland call-up and attracted a lot of attention before his season was disrupted by a January ankle injury that needed surgery, returned to training with the first-team group at East Mains last week. Too late to make the squad for the final Edinburgh derby of the season.
But Gray doesn’t completely rule out some sort of involvement against Celtic, saying: “He’ll train fully this week, I think. Certainly, yeah, he’ll be back in the group fully. Whether or not he’s available for the game or not, that will have to remain to be seen. He’ll have a few hurdles to get over within the training week.
“Of course, it’s frustrating for everyone that he is back in training but not quite ready to play. But that’s part of the process. There’s almost like a return to play protocol, where you can re-enact game situations in training drills, do things without opposition – and without chaos round about him. It’s still very controlled.
“The next stage for Josh in his rehab and his return to playing is getting into the training environment. A training environment where it is competitive, fast, intense, where he’s not got time to think about it and protect himself, and make sure he comes through that. And if he gets through that, hopefully it can push him to get back in the squad.”
Hibs trail Motherwell by six points, while the Steelmen have a goal difference advantage of 11. Although a Celtic win in next month’s Scottish Cup final would see the team finishing fifth in the Scottish Premiership rewarded with European qualification, the experience of last season – when Hibs were relying on the Hoops to beat Aberdeen at Hampden in order to guarantee league stage football – has made Gray wary of making any assumptions.
With Falkirk and Rangers away to come before Motherwell visit on the final weekend of league action, getting three points at home to Celtic on Sunday is essential. With Martin O’Neill and his team just three points behind leaders Hearts, the visitors – who beat Falkirk 3-1 at Celtic Park on Saturday – will not lack motivation themselves.
Gray said: “Celtic are going for the league and we’re going for fourth place. So they’re going to be trying to back up their performance from the weekend.
“I went to their game on Saturday and, for larger periods, they were very good in the game and very dangerous. Like you said, you’re not involved in the title race if you’re not a dangerous team. They’ve still got that level of talent. And they’re going to have threats.
“The biggest thing for us, as I said, in the last two weeks, I feel we’ve beaten ourselves. We need to make sure we go into the game again ready for a tough test, but one that, if we keep 11 on the pitch and we do everything we can to get that performance level, we’re capable of getting a result.
“And that’s what the players have to believe. They need to believe you can win these games.”