Hibs: Stack faces months out as Rankin is told he can depart

HIBS were dealt a blow today with the news that Graham Stack looks set to miss the rest of the season because of a shoulder injury.

The goalkeeper had impressed in recent weeks, having been given a five-match run by manager Colin Calderwood but was caught late by defender Mark McLaughlin in the SPL clash with Hamilton at Easter Road last weekend and forced off after just 41 minutes.

The club and the player are believed to have met with a specialist yesterday and were told that their stopper will require surgery to rectify the problem and that he is likely to be sidelined for around three months.

With Stack – who is out of contract at the end of the season – due to go under the knife in the next few days, Calderwood now seems certain to turn to Mark Brown, who was between the sticks for the game against St Johnstone on Saturday.

The Hibs manager has employed a rotation system for his goalkeepers in recent weeks in a bid to decide who should be handed the gloves on a permanent basis.

Meanwhile, John Rankin has become the latest player to be told that his services are no longer required at Easter Road.

Colin Calderwood, who has already seen Sol Bamba, Merouane Zemmama and Chris Hogg quit the club, as well as telling Kevin McBride that he is free to go, informed the midfielder that he too is surplus to requirements.

The 27-year-old's agent, Tam Callaghan, said: "John has been told that he won't be getting his contract renewed with Hibernian. His current deal is up at the end of the season and he will continue to give his all for the club and be ready to play if he is called upon between now and the summer."

Alongside Rankin and Stack, goalkeeper Graeme Smith, Derek Riordan, Lewis Stevenson, Liam Miller and Steven Thicot are among the other squad members whose deals run out in the summer.