John Hughes praises 'hard-working' Derek Riordan

Hibernian manager John Hughes has assured Derek Riordan he is working hard enough after the striker was overlooked again by Scotland manager Craig Levein.

Riordan has netted three goals in four games, including a sublime chip against Celtic on Saturday, but failed to make the squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Spain.

Levein has preferred the likes of Chris Iwelumo and the uncapped Surrey-born Jamie Mackie to Riordan, who has three Scotland caps to his name.

The 27-year-old has often been perceived as a gifted player who does not work as hard as others, not the kind who are likely to find favour with Levein. But Hughes insists the former Celtic striker pulls his weight in the Hibs team and praised him for a hard-working display at Parkhead last weekend in a lone striker's role.

"I think he has shown form, goalscoring form too," said Hughes, whose team travel to face St Johnstone in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League tomorrow. "He has certainly come into Craig's thoughts.

"He just needs to keep doing what he's doing for Hibs and scoring goals, and I'm sure the door will open again for him."

Hughes first encountered Riordan as a youngster when both played for Hibs and he feels that his former team-mate has matured in recent times.

"He works very hard at his game," Hughes said. "We're finished training and Derek is still out there practising.

"My concern on Saturday was playing Derek as a lone striker, and I felt he worked his socks off. I was delighted he got a goal to go with all the hard work, realising you can score goals, work hard and play your part for the team. Derek knows that every game he needs to put his shoulder to the wheel. And I've seen that, I've had no complaints with Derek Riordan since I've come to the club.

"I've been impressed with his attitude and commitment. He is back-tracking, putting tackles in, winning headers."

But Hughes added: "The thing about Derek, it's a fine balance.

"You ask him to do all that and you're taking him out of areas where he's at his best, and that's in the final third.

"Sometimes you have to make sure you set your team up accordingly and let Derek do his bit of business in the final third."

Meanwhile, Hughes revealed that Colin Nish and Sol Bamba would be available for the McDiarmid Park clash after recovering from injuries, but Danny Galbraith is expected to miss out with a knee knock.