Hibs: Mark Oxley stays; Jordon Forster ruled out

Hibernian are breathing a sigh of relief with the news that Hull City are prohibited from recalling goalkeeper Mark Oxley who is on loan at Easter Road from the English Premiership side.
Hibernian's Jordon Forster is expected to be out injured for six weeks. Picture: TSPLHibernian's Jordon Forster is expected to be out injured for six weeks. Picture: TSPL
Hibernian's Jordon Forster is expected to be out injured for six weeks. Picture: TSPL

The Humberside outfit suffered a goalkeeping crisis at the weekend when second choice ‘keeper Steve Harper suffered an arm injury in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal, manager Steve Bruce already deprived of the services of Scotland international Allan McGregor remains out with a shoulder problem.

Bruce had signalled his intentions on Sunday evening to recall the 24-year-old from Hibs but learned yesterday any move is forbidden as a player moving between different football associations cannot return to his parent club until the transfer window reopens.

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Oxley will instead line up this weekend in Hibs’ home clash against city rivals Hearts.

Meanwhile, Hibs head coach Alan Stubbs admits he expects Jordon Forster to be sidelined for up to six weeks after the defender broke his foot.

The centre half’s disappointing set-back has left Stubbs with only four fit defenders ahead of Sunday’s visit of Championship leaders and city rivals Hearts.

Summer recruit Liam Fontaine faces a race against time to be fit for the second Edinburgh derby of the season due to a thigh problem he sustained in the recent draw with Dumbarton.

Forster confirmed on social media that he fractured his fifth metatarsal in training on Thursday morning.

The 21-year-old had played in every minute of all Hibs’ matches prior to Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of Livingston.

With a link to a picture of his right foot in a protective medical boot, Forster said on Twitter: “Unfortunately I fractured my foot on Thursday morning! Rest and recovery. Then a lot of hard work to come back even stronger!”

Stubbs, who brought in Callum Booth as Forster’s replacement at the weekend, said: “Unfortunately it looks like Jordon has done his metatarsal so he’s going to be out for the best part of four-to-six weeks.

“We’ll just have to get on with it, it was one of those things. It was an innocuous way how it happened.

“We’ve basically got four fit defenders, that’s where it is.”