Sol Bamba will benefit from African quest says Hibs' Chris Hogg

• Sol Bamba

The big defender returned to training with Hibs yesterday after the Ivory Coast went out at the quarter-final stage after extra-time against Algeria.

He could go straight into contention for a place in the Hibs team to face St Mirren today, but manager John Hughes has hinted that the former Dunfermline player may be on the bench.

Despite Bamba's disappointment at missing out on the silverware in Angola –Ivory Coast were favourites to win the tournament – Hogg reckons that his team-mate should be delighted with his own contribution and believes that the experience has proved that the defender can mix it with the best in the game.

Hogg said: "The big man has done well and it has been nice to see him go over and play well in a big tournament. It was disappointing for them to lose out at the stage they did.

"I think the majority of the boys watched all of the games he was involved in.

"Big Sol was positive they could do well, so it's a shame for him but it is great credit to him that he has been able to hold his own.

"I don't think there has been any doubt that he has looked comfortable. In the games I saw he acquitted himself really well.

"Given the quality of players they have in their ranks playing with them will only help him raise his game and give him more belief he can play at that level.

"He's has been good for us and hopefully he can carry on for the rest of the year now."

In Bamba's absence, Hogg has played alongside Ian Murray and Paul Hanlon at the back but believes that it won't take long for the pair to pick up where they left off in the centre of defence.

Hogg continued: "To be honest I'm not really sure how long it takes two defenders to get used to each other, I am not sure you can actually put a timescale on it. You have just got to adjust to each other and Sol has began to get used to the way I play and it is the same with me and him.

"It's all about a bit of communication and things like that. We had a decent partnership before he went away. And, if he is available for this game and the manager sees fit and he is ready and well, then hopefully we can resume that."