James McPake and Tim Clancy to face Rangers

HIBERNIAN captain James McPake and fellow defender Tim Clancy will bid to move a step closer to a first-team return today by taking on Rangers in a bounce match.

James McPake. Picture: SNS

The Leith side have arranged a closed-doors game with Ally McCoist’s men in Glasgow after a scheduled under-20 match between the sides was called off due to the international fixtures. The pair are expected to take part in the match as they look to regain match fitness.

Centre-half McPake has not featured since suffering a back spasm during the embarrassing Europa League 7-0 defeat at home to Malmo at the end of July, while right-back Clancy is yet to kick a ball this term 
after undergoing groin surgery during the summer.

Both players trained with the rest of their team-mates last week, but manager Pat Fenlon decided against naming the them in the squad for Saturday’s visit of Ross County.

Fenlon could also give game time to new recruit Abdellah Zoubir, the French forward who joined from Frence side Istres.