Danny Galbraith eyes Hibs return as club clarify reasons for absence

By IAN COLLIN
Published on 08/09/2012 00:51

Danny Galbraith could be back at Hibernian on Monday after the club yesterday insisted the player’s enforced absence from the training ground had been due to his ongoing fitness problems.

The Easter Road club finally released a statement on the issue yesterday after Galbraith’s agent, Blair Morgan, met with chairman Rod Petrie in a bid to put a stop to speculation the player had been told to stay away on disciplinary grounds.

Reports earlier this week suggested the 22-year-old had been ‘banished’ from Hibs’ East Lothian training base and, with the SPL outfit refusing to comment, the decision sparked wild

rumours over the possible reasons behind the move. However, Hibs yesterday revealed that concerns over the winger’s rehabilitation from a hip operation had sparked the club’s medical staff to order him to rest at home and that he had not been suspended “subject to any disciplinary process”.

Galbraith, who was also sidelined for ten months with a groin problem during an injury-ravaged spell with Manchester United as a teenager, has not played for Hibs since the 3-2 defeat to St Johnstone on 21 January and had surgery at the end of last season which involved shaving bone from his hip area.

Hibs’ statement read: “Hibernian can confirm that the absence of Danny Galbraith from the Hibernian Training Centre relates to Danny’s ongoing medical condition. The club’s medical team and the player felt that a short break from training would assist his rehabilitation prior to a further reassessment of his ongoing medical problems.

“Danny’s medical condition is a private matter between the player and the club.

“The player has not been subject to any disciplinary process or suspension by the club. Recent reports in the media have been wide of the mark and hurtful to the player.

“The club hopes that Danny will recover from his playing injuries in the near future.”

Morgan admitted that he was happy that Hibs had moved to clarify the situation and confirmed Galbraith’s return to fitness was the reason behind the club’s instruction for the player to stay away.

Morgan added: “The club could have killed the situation straight away but they felt Danny’s medical issues were a private matter between the club and the player.

“There was nothing absolutely untoward about the decision, it was purely a decision taken by the Hibs medical staff to ensure Danny got the rest they felt he needed.

“Danny is a real professional, he was in slogging his guts out trying to get back from the operation he had and he had to be told to stay away and not train.

“He’s been reassessed again and could be back in at the training centre on Monday.

“As soon as the medical team believe it’s right for him to build up his fitness again that’s what he’ll do.”