Ulrik blow for Hibees

STRUGGLING Hibs were dealt another devastating blow today with the news that Danish defender Ulrik Laursen will be out of action for up to eight weeks after dislocating his shoulder against Rangers.

Hibs were forced to play out the final 13 minutes of their Tennent’s Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox, a game they eventually lost 4-1, with ten men after Laursen went down under an innocuous challenge from Rangers Shota Arveladze.

And today boss Franck Sauzee revealed that Laursen, who has dislocated the same joint in the past, will now need an operation to strengthen the shoulder.

Sauzee admitted he was stunned at the severity of the injury which will rob him of the services of Laursen for "between six and eight weeks" at a crucial time for Hibs who are battling to avoid becoming embroiled in a relegation dog-fight with basement outfit St Johnstone.

He said: "When I saw Ulrik go down I thought he had taken a kick to his calf or ankle. It is very sad for us and for Ulrik. He will be a big loss at what is a crucial time for us."

While Sauzee regards injuries as part-and-parcel of the match, he agreed he couldn’t help but feel that bad luck was following bad luck. Laursen’s freak injury was exacerbated by the fact striker Paco Luna injured his back in the warm-up on Saturday, while his fellow hitman Eduardo Hurtado limped off with a hamstring problem. Add the fact that Mathias Jack and Alen Orman are now suspended, the German midfielder for three games, and Sauzee, already without Craig Brewster and Tam McManus, faces having to put out a threadbare side against champions Celtic in Saturday’s televised match at Easter Road.

He said: "It is unbelievable . Paco felt something go in his back during the warm-up and while, with the benefit of hindsight, it might have been better for him not to play, he said he wanted to when I asked him if he was okay. He did well but after 45 minutes he had to say he couldn’t continue."

Sauzee will have to await the opinion of physio Malcolm Colquhoun, but he is hopeful Luna and Hurtado may have a chance of being fit for Saturday as does skipper John O’Neil, who has missed Hibs’ last four matches with a knee injury.

New signing Jarkko Wiss, ineligible for the cup, will play in tonight’s under-21 game against Motherwell at Easter Road (kick-off 7pm).

Taken from the Scotsman