Hibs boss admits Liam ban could be blessing in disguise

The midfielder will sit out the trip to Parkhead as he serves a one-match suspension but he is also struggling with a calf problem.

Hughes admitted losing Miller for the Parkhead showdown is a huge blow to his side, but said: "Liam is a big loss for us, although it might be a blessing in disguise that his suspension falls this weekend because he's got a knock that might have kept him out anyway.

"Having said that, I was at Parkhead on Tuesday night and that is a stage that would really suit Liam, it's a game that he really should have been playing in. But we have to go there without him and that doesn't worry me. I have got great faith and great trust in the rest of the players.

"We have got to go there with no fear. We know that it will be a daunting atmosphere, but that's the case every time you go there and the players are used to it."

Following their 0-0 draw with Dundee United last night, Rangers defender Majid Bougherra urged Hibs to do them a favour in the title race by taking points off Celtic but Hughes insisted: "I am not interested in what anyone else is saying. I am going to be focusing 100 per cent on my own team and I want to get us as high up that table as possible."

Meanwhile, Derek Riordan has called in PFA Scotland after being fined by Hibs for comments he made to the media criticising the pitch. The striker described the Easter Road surface as a 'bog' during a press conference and the club docked him a week's wages.

However, Riordan is furious about the disciplinary action and has the backing of several of his team-mates.

Players' union chief Fraser Wishart is in talks with Hibs chairman Rod Petrie in a bid to try to resolve the situation.