Aiden McGeady could return from a four-month injury lay-off to feature for Hibs in next week’s friendly against FC Edinburgh.
McGeady, 36, played four Premier Sports Cup group games at the start of the season before aggravating a ligament in a friendly against Norwich on July 24.
He has not featured since, frustrating manager Lee Johnson who had also worked with him at Sunderland, but might now be back for some of the Easter Road friendly against their capital rivals next Thursday evening.
“I’m not sure about McGeady but I think we might try and risk him a bit,” said Johnson. “He’s still getting a bit of nip in that last extensive action whether that be a shot from distance or a cross. Maybe we might try to throw something into it like an injection or something just to get rid of that. With him it’s then the lung capacity and building that up.”
Hibs welcomed back Kevin Nisbet against Middlesbrough after nearly nine months out with an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury. And Johnson is keen to develop an understanding between the Scotland striker and summer signing Harry McKirdy as he seeks an attacking spark in the absence of Boyle.
He added: “We’re desperate to get that connection between McKirdy and Nisbet, it’s the work we’ve got to go and do again.
“That is why it’s a good break for us and it’s come at the right time.
“Hopefully we will see another level of sharpness from McKirdy and Nizzy when we play Edinburgh City.”
Meanwhile, with Kyle Magennis to return from illness and Demetri Mitchell and Jake Doyle-Hayes recovering from injuries, Johnson has revealed Mykola Kuharevich is a doubt for Rangers.
The on-loan Troyes striker picked up a knee problem in the final game before the World Cup lay-off and is touch and go for Ibrox on December 15.
Johnson explained: “Mykola has a medial ligament injury that he sustained in the last 10 minutes against Kilmarnock. He went back to the City Group to have the scans.
“I think he probably will be ready for the Rangers game — if not Rangers then Livingston.”
