James McPake hopes for quick to return from Achilles problems

By ALAN TEMPLE
Published on 11/10/2012 02:21

Hibernian are sweating over the fitness of James McPake after the club captain was ruled out of Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Portugal with an Achilles tendon problem.

The 28-year-old suffered the knock in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Dundee at Easter Road, which, for a few hours, propelled Hibs to the summit of the Scottish Premier League.

It was yesterday confirmed that the injury will keep McPake from featuring in the onerous trip to Oporto for Michael O’Neill’s national side.

However, Hibs remain hopeful their skipper will be fit to face Ross County in Dingwall in the first SPL fixture following the international break. A club statement confirmed: “James McPake is out of Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Portugal with an Achilles injury, but he is confident he will be fit enough to face Ross County on October 20.”

It has already been a taxing week for Hibs manager Pat 
Fenlon, after losing combative midfielder Gary Deegan for several weeks. The former Coventry City midfielder was forced to undergo an operation to repair a broken jaw following an incident in the early hours of Sunday 
morning.

McPake is desperate to be in contention for the trip to Victoria Park as he seeks to rediscover the inspirational form of last term. Despite the notable improvement, McPake believes he has not yet hit the heights of last season, during which he was one of the only bright spots in a miserable year for the Leith club.

The Hibees’ skipper conceded: “I think I have been OK this season, at best. I feel there is a lot more to come from me, but I have to be happy about being fit and getting through the games. The form will come back 
eventually.”