HIbs face a race against time to bring in a new goalkeeper after Kevin Dabrowski injured his shoulder ligaments in training on Thursday.
The 24-year-old is facing at least two months on the sidelines after a collision at their East Mains training base, leaving David Marshall as the only senior keeper on Lee Johnson ’s books.
Back-up keeper Dabrowski has only made one start in the League Cup group stages this season. But after an impressive breakthrough campaign last year in which he made six starts including a clean sheet in his debut against Hearts, the Polish shot stopper was expected to keep the pressure on Marshall for the gloves. Teenage keeper Murray Johnson is on a short-term loan at Airdrie and while he could be recalled Johnson is understood to be keen to get another experienced keeper in to cover for Dabrowski with just six days remaining in the window.
A HIbs statement said: "Unfortunately Kevin Dabrowski has been ruled out for a substantial period of time through injury. The 24-year-old damaged the ligaments in his shoulder after a collision in training.
"Subsequent scans have revealed that he will be unavailable for selection for, at least, a couple of months. Kevin will now work closely with the club’s medical department to ensure he returns back to fitness as quickly as possible."
Hibs face St Mirren in Paisley tomorrow and Johnson could be recalled to provide goalkeeping cover on the bench.
Midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes is ready to feel the heat of the Saints fans when he takes on his old club.
The 23-year-old left the Buddies to move to Easter Road last summer and is accustomed to getting a frosty reception from their supporters whenever he goes up against them. But he is relishing this weekend's cinch Premiership trip to St Mirren Park.
"I like playing St Mirren," said Doyle-Hayes. "I've got a few friends still there. There's maybe a slightly different atmosphere because you get a few boos and stuff like that but you have to get that out of your head and get on with your own game.
"I get a bit heat from the St Mirren fans but you don't pay much attention to it. I can't wait. It will be a difficult task but I believe we've got enough in the changing room to go there and get the three points."
Doyle-Hayes is prepared for a midfield battle with former Hibs colleague Alex Gogic, who joined the Buddies earlier this week: "I'm pretty good friends with Gogs so I'm looking forward to seeing him, but friendship will be put to one side for the game," said the Irishman.
"He's a really good player and a tough opponent. I can probably expect a few tackles from him but I'm sure we'll meet up after the game and have a chat."
Doyle-Hayes admits Hibs have had a "mixed bag" of a start to their cinch Premiership campaign and hopes they can start getting themselves on an upward curve: "We started off well with the late winner at St Johnstone, we've had a couple of draws and the defeat at Livingston wasn't great," he said.
"I think we need to build on how it ended against Rangers with the late equaliser."
Last weekend against Rangers, Doyle-Hayes was yellow-carded for a first-half trip on John Lundstram and the Ibrox midfielder was then controversially sent off for a near-identical challenge on Hibs attacker Martin Boyle after the break. The inconsistencies between how the two incidents were dealt with by referee Willie Collum sparked much debate earlier in the week before Lundstram's red was downgraded to a yellow on appeal.
"I would say they were both yellows, to be honest," said Doyle-Hayes. "I think his is a yellow as well. He was just trying to break up play. I don't think he was trying to hurt anyone but the ref made his decision and we'll take it. I think everyone that knows about football knows it was a yellow card and the ref made a wrong decision but these things happen, the refs don't always get it right."
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