David Marshall reckons you'll see Hibs at their optimum once everyone is available for selection and free from injury.
It's been a dismal week for the Hibees as new boss Lee Johnson's reign gets off to the worst possible start. After a 1-0 defeat to League One side Falkirk earlier this month in Premier Sports Cup Group D, they drew 1-1 with Championship outfit Morton at Easter Road on Wednesday. A loss in the bonus point shootout left them on seven points and their last 16 hopes hanging by a thread, but an admin error saw Rocky Bushiri play while suspended.
A 3-0 defeat inflicted upon them has now knocked Hibs out the cup but for Marshall, the performances to begin with weren't good enough. Paul Hanlon, Kevin Nisbet, Kyle Magennis, Lewis Stevenson and Demetri Mitchell missed all or some of the four matches through injuries.
READ MORE: Three things we learned as Hibs Premier Sports Cup hopes dangle by a thread after Morton draw
Work permit delays have also held up Momodou Bojang, Jair Tavares, Ellie Youan and Marijan Cabraja's arrivals in Leith and fellow new signing Marshall can't wait for them to get going.
He said: "We don't want to be going out at this stage but there's no arguments from us. We lost to Falkirk, we didn't beat Morton at Easter Road so regardless of where we're at, it's not been good enough.
"The manager has been in the door less than a month, there were good performances earlier in pre-season and I think the second halves at Falkirk and against Morton were good performances.
"It's just disappointing because you could get into the last 16 of the cup early and there's a 90 per cent chance that we're out, but you probably won't see the best of this team until everyone's fit and available."
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Fans voiced their displeasure at full-time during the Morton match and the veteran keeper understands why: "I've got experience from it, albeit a long time ago, but there is a lot of experience in the dressing room.
"Perhaps for the foreign lads and the boys coming in it will be a bit of a culture shock, it is what it is and it's up to us to help them settle.
"There are big expectations here; you heard the fans, who understandably weren't happy, and they will demand third place and that's the pressure we have to deal with.
"I'm not going to make excuses here. Morton and Falkirk are in the exact same boat, ultimately we had enough to win the group and it didn't happen."
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- Hibs new boy Momodou Bojang reveals details of Lee Johnson chat that sold him on Easter Road move
- Ron Gordon reacts to Hibs Premier Sports Cup exit and Rocky Bushiri admin error
