Hibs: Availability of Ian Murray a fillip for Hughes

Published on Wednesday 25 August 2010 13:41

HIBS boss John Hughes has welcomed the return of Ian Murray to the squad this weekend – and hinted that he may make more changes to his side after the defeat to Rangers.

Murray is available again after serving a two-match suspension at the start of this season and is in line to make his first start of the campaign in the trip to St Mirren on Sunday.

The defender missed the win over Motherwell and defeat to Rangers – games which saw Hibs concede five goals – and Hughes is delighted to have the defender's experience at his disposal once again.

He said: "Ian Murray is available for us again this weekend and it is good to have him back in the squad.

"He's an experienced boy, he's a leader and he's a good, solid player. Sunday's result was disappointing and there are plenty of other ones, as well as Ian, who are just waiting in the wings for their chance. We will see how things go with injuries."

Meanwhile, Hughes is hoping Graham Stack's back problem will continue to improve this week after the Englishman was ruled out of the Rangers game.

The goalkeeper's injury is not the same one that he suffered last season and Hughes believes that further back problems can be eased by concentrating on building his core strength.

He continued: "Stacky has got a disc in his back and when it touches a nerve it goes into spasm, that's what's happened to him this week. I have got a similar problem so I have got every sympathy with the big guy.

"Our focus with him has to be building up his core strength, get him as strong in that area as we possibly can, and, to be fair, he has worked really hard so far."