HIBS manager Tony Mowbray has told Scott Brown he can't risk starting the midfielder in the Edinburgh derby.

The 20-year-old made his comeback for the reserves at Dunfermline on Tuesday after 10 weeks out with a broken leg.

Brown played 20 minutes of his side's 2-1 win at East End Park.

But Mowbray has told the Scotland international the best he can expect this weekend is a place on the bench for the Easter Road crunch against the Jambos.

Mowbray said: "Scott has only had four or five days of training after being out so long, so we will have to wait and see.

"I'll have a chat with him and if he feels all right we might stick him on the bench. If he feels he needs another week's training then that's what we will do.

"There is no need to rush him back as we have other important games from which we want to take points and we'd rather do what is right than play him for one match and lose him from the others."

Dean Shiels, who made his first topteam appearance since December as a sub in the 1-1 draw at Parkhead on Sunday, also continued his return to fitness against the Pars.

He was replaced by Brown and has played his way into contention for a start against Hearts as Mowbray's side bid to keep alive their own hopes of European qualification next season.

Midfielder Antonio Murray is also on the way back from a long-term back problem, butMichael Stewart, Gary Smith and Chris Killen are all likely to be sidelined.

Taken from the Daily Record