Kevin Nisbet says he’s ready to take on Rangers and take up the Hibs mantle from crocked Martin Boyle after ending a tortuous time out of action.
The striker made his long-awaited comeback in a friendly against Middlesbrough on Saturday having been out since February after suffering a serious knee injury against Celtic. The Scotland international went down during the first half of the goalless draw at Easter Road after Carl Starfelt clumsily clattered through the back of him and the challenge resulted in Nisbet being helped off.
Now Nisbet is ready to lead the line in the first match back after the World Cup against Rangers and happy to take the pressure now that Boyle has agonisingly missed playing in Qatar for Australia with a similar injury.
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Nisbet told Sky Sports: “It was great to be back out there. I have been out for a long time. It’s nine months and a few weeks so it was great to get into the swing of things.
“For me it’s about building it up. Hopefully I’ll get 60 minutes in the next game against Edinburgh to build up to the Rangers game.
“I think there is every chance I can start that game it just depends how I come through games now. If everything goes well then I don’t see why not.
“It has been tough mentally sitting in the stand watching the boys, it’s not been great, and then all the hours in the gym. I just want to get back out here and help the boys on the pitch.
“We’ve not been scoring a lot of goals and obviously losing Martin Boyle is bad timing because the fans know how well Boyley and I play together.
“So as I striker I need to step up and put the pressure on myself to try to get the goals.”
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