LEE JOHNSON has revealed plans to ease Aiden McGeady back into action ahead of Hibernian’s Premiership return against Rangers in a fortnight.
The former Celtic winger has not yet made his Premiership debut for Hibs because of a recurrence of the knee injury that plagued him at former club Sunderland.
The Republic of Ireland stalwart featured in all four League Cup group games in July but suffered a setback when Hibs faced Norwich City in their final warm-up game ahead of the top-flight campaign.
The 36-year-old has been back training in recent weeks but still feeling pain and was not risked when Hibs lost 2-0 to Middlesbrough in a friendly last weekend.
But, with an attacking void to fill after the devastating news of Martin Boyle’s season-ending knee surgery, Johnson is considering testing McGeady’s recovery in next Thursday’s meeting with capital neighbours FC Edinburgh.
He said: “I’m not sure about McGeady but I think we might try and risk him a bit in that Edinburgh City game.
“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 and throw something into it like an injection or something like that 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.”
