Ivan Sproule content to play his waiting game at Hibs

IVAN SPROULE admits he can have no complaints about 
being something of a fringe man during Hibs’ stirring start to the season – and is content to wait his turn for a return to the starting line-up.

The Northern Irish winger has featured in only nine of Hibs’ games this term, and hasn’t started since the opening-day defeat at Dundee United. 
However, he has come on in each of the last two games – away to St Johnstone in the SPL and at home to Hearts in the Scottish Cup – to help Hibs score late winners.

Despite being frustrated by his lack of outings this term, though, the 31-year-old is philosophical enough to accept that he has no divine right to a place in a team which has flourished under Pat Fenlon of late.

“Obviously I would prefer 
to be playing, but I have 
spoken to the manager and I am 
speaking to him on a regular basis,” he said. “I am being 
patient because the lads are winning. We are sitting second in the league and we are into the last 16 of the cup.

“You can’t really complain too much. I want to be playing, but I am not silly either. Hopefully over the next few weeks I can get myself back into the starting line-up and get a bit more football under my belt.”

• HIBS’ Under-20s won their fourth successive league match to go third in the table after beating Dundee 3-1 at Dens Park last night despite having goalkeeper Sean Murdoch sent off. Danny Handling, Pa Kujabi and Euan Smith all scored before Murdoch got his marching orders in the dying minutes. Handling went in goal for the resultant spot-kick but was unable to prevent the home side claiming a consolation goal.