Ofir Marciano latest as Hibs mull over goalkeeping options for Betfred Cup semi-final

Ofir Marciano is hopeful of making a return to the Hibs line-up this weekend.

Hibs goalkeepers Ofir Marciano and Matt Macey in training. Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group

The 31-year-old Israeli goalkeeper has been sidelined with muscular complaints since limping off with a tight hamstring in the 57th minute of Hibs’ 1-0 win over St Mirren, just before Christmas.

That kept him out of the Boxing Day trip to Ibrox and the visit of Ross County to Easter Road at the end of the year.

He had been expected to return for the Premiership clash with Livingston at the beginning of 2021 but, having been named in the starting XI, he pulled out after feeling a tightness in his calf during the warm up, forcing his deputy Dillon Barnes to step in at the last minute.

Marciano was also ruled out for the midweek clash with Celtic, but Barnes’ recall to parent club QPR at the beginning of the transfer window left manager Jack Ross desperately trying to tie up a replacement.

He brought former development squad keeper Kevin Dabrowski back from his loan spell at Dumbarton and signed up Matt Macey from Arsenal until the end of the season.

The Englishman played in the last two games and Ross has said he would have no fears about relying on him at Hampden.

But, the manager has made it clear that Marciano, who is in negotiations with the Leith club to extend his current deal which expires in the summer, remains his first choice and unless there are any further setbacks, he will be in goal when Hibs take on St Johnstone in the first of this season’s Betfred Cup semi-finals.

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