Hibs' Dylan McGeouch ruled out of League Cup final

Alan Stubbs has expressed sympathy for Dylan McGeouch after the Hibernian midfielder was yesterday ruled out of Sunday's League Cup final against Ross County.

The former Celtic player misses the match with a persistent groin problem and will now see a specialist in a bid to resolve the issue which has plagued him for much of the season.

McGeouch limped out of Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle but travelled to Spain with the rest of the Hibs squad for their pre-cup final training camp.

However, Stubbs confirmed the bad news that the player would miss the Hampden showdown.

“Dylan is not going to make Sunday, unfortunately,” the Hibs head coach said. “I’m gutted for him because he has tried hard to get back and it has been a frustrating injury for him.

“It’s nothing serious, it may only be a couple of weeks that he’s out. But I think this time we are really going to try to get to the bottom of it. We’re going to get a professional opinion for him.”

Hibs will now hope that 
fellow midfielder Fraser Fyvie can recover in time from a medial ligament injury to make the squad for the final.

Ross County, meanwhile, have signed American goalkeeper Chris Konopka.

Konopka joins as cover with current No 1 Scott Fox out of the Hampden clash because of a knee injury. On-loan Leyton Orient goalkeeper Gary Woods has been deputising.

A short club statement said: “Ross County have agreed a short-term deal with American goalkeeper Chris Konopka. The deal is subject to international clearance.”

The 6ft 5in goalkeeper holds a Polish passport and therefore does not require a work permit to sign.

The 30-year-old was most recently on the books at MLS side Toronto FC, racking up 24 appearances last season, but was released at the end of the campaign.

He was recently on trial with DC United – managed by former Nottingham Forest midfielder Ben Olson – but failed to win a deal.

Konopka has also spent time with Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bulls and Kansas City Wizards but mainly as an understudy. He has experience of playing overseas following stints with Irish outfits Bohemians, Sporting Fingal and Waterford United.