Fit Hibs give Duffy a boost

PAUL SINCLAIR

1 Jan 1997

THE new Hibs manager, Jim Duffy, will be better off than his immediate predecessor in terms of available players at least, as he prepares for today's derby with Hearts at Easter Road.

While captain John Hughes starts a four-match suspension, four of his colleagues, and possibly a fifth are back in contention for a first-team place.

Gordon Hunter, Pat McGinlay, Kevin Harper, and Willie Miller have all trained this week and are available for selection.

Rab Shannon also returned to training yesterday and may come into the squad.

Duffy will seek the opinions of his senior players, Jim Leighton and Darren Jackson, before making his final selection.

"I don't think I could have asked for a better game with which to start my career as Hibernian manager,'' Duffy said.

His players, of course, said many times that they wanted Jocky Scott to retain the position Duffy now occupies.

Despite working with them for only a day and a half, Duffy does not see a problem in motivation.

"If you don't feel motivated as a player for a New Year derby, you shouldn't be in football,'' he said.

"After that we have Rangers coming here on Saturday so I could hardly have asked for two more exciting fixtures.'' Hearts, whose performances have been disappointing since their defeat in the Coca-Cola Cup final, will be hoping to continue the form which has seen them win their last two matches.

"While they say form does not count for anything in derby matches, it's good to go into this game on the back of two victories,'' said Hearts manager Jim Jefferies.

"We can take confidence from those results,'' he said.

"If we can make it three victories in a row, then we would be in a strong position in the top bracket of this league.'' Jefferies is almost certain to recall Dave McPherson for this match, although he has not played since the last derby at Easter Road on November 16.

McPherson's ankle injury appears now to have healed and he has been in training, although he has not played in a match.

If the Hearts manager does take a chance and select McPherson, it would leave him the problem of who to drop from the team.

The likeliest candidates are youngsters Gordon Murie and Gary Naysmith who have responded well to the challenge of replacing more experienced team-mates.

Taken from the Herald