Darryl Duffy confident of making early return from foot injury

The 26-year-old will go under the knife at Murrayfield Hospital to pin the broken metatarsal in his right foot after his Easter Road career began on a low note.

Duffy was set to make his debut in the 1-1 draw against Inverness last Saturday, only to sustain the injury with nobody near him in training 24 hours earlier.

The former Rangers youth, recruited from Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan, could be out of action for up to 12 weeks.

But Duffy has endured the same injury before, only on his left foot nine years ago when at Ibrox, and is already targeting a quicker than expected return.

He said: "I'm getting the same operation as a few years ago, quite possibly the same surgeon doing it as well. It's pencilled in for Thursday.

"I've been told it's eight to 12 weeks out for me, but I think that's a bit conservative.

"I think if I'm over eight weeks I'll be a bit disappointed. I've been told 12 but I'm aiming for eight. I need to be fitter and stronger when I come back."

He added: "The silver lining is I get more time to spend with my 12-week-old boy, Grayson. I can't be lifting him up stairs and such like, but it's nice to be around him."

Duffy could have made the difference as Hibs passed up a host of chances against the Highlanders. Edwin de Graaf blazed over an open goal while Derek Riordan again missed a penalty.

The striker has now failed to net his last three spot-kicks, but manager John Hughes has leapt to his defence. He said: "The next one is his if he wants it. He made the penalty against Caley Thistle and was brave enough to grab the ball.

"Derek practises penalties and free-kicks in training every day, he does take a good penalty kick but he was unfortunate on the day.

"It was just another instance of Lady Luck appearing to desert us - Darryl's broken foot, the miss Edwin had and then Derek's penalty."

Meanwhile, former Hibs striker Garry O'Connor has insisted that his Premier League career isn't over despite being farmed out on-loan by Birmingham City to Barnsley. O'Connor marked his debut for the club with a goal in their 5-2 win against Leeds United on Tuesday.

"I am still a massive part of the gaffer's plans at Birmingham," said O'Connor. "But I need a run of games under my belt.

"It is a 28-day loan and there are six games. If I do well, a three-month loan will suit me even more, or maybe our gaffer will pull me back. The gaffer wasn't pushing me out, it was me who wanted to push it.

"If I had stayed at Birmingham, I would have to fight for my place and the gaffer is playing with one up front just now.

"For me its the love of the game.I want to play and score goals. I am guaranteed games at Barnsley and that's why I came."