Hibernian return to action at Easter Road on Wednesday aiming to end a tough run of form in the Scottish Premiership in the midst of what has been a disappointing first half to the campaign.
After 20 outings in Scotland’s top flight, Hibs currently sit sixth with just 25 points on the board, having only managed to add one point to that tally in the last three attempts since mid-December, firstly seeing a hot streak ended by a 1-0 defeat away at St Johnstone before losing by the same scoreline to Edinburgh rivals Hearts after Christmas as Lawrence Shankland netted the only goal in injury time.
Nick Montgomery‘s side were then most recently in league action soon after the turn of the year at home to Motherwell, and they were, at least, able to snatch a point from a 2-2 draw as Elie Youan netted his second goal of the game in the 91st minute.
Having headed into the winter break with spirits low as a result of their dip in form, Hibs returned to action with a trip to Forfar Athletic in the Scottish Cup fourth round on Saturday and managed to bounce back to winning ways and book a round-of-16 place with a 1-0 triumph courtesy of Christian Doidge‘s 69th-minute goal.
With their focus now back on the league pursuits, returning with a four-point gap up to fifth-placed St Mirren and just a two-point lead over Dundee in the bottom half, Hibernian will be keen to end their wait for a seventh league win of the season on Wednesday to begin improving their standing in the middle of the Premiership
Hibernian will continue to deal with several enforced absences on Wednesday, with Lewis Miller and Martin Boyle away on international duty with Australia at the Asian Cup and Rocky Bushiri and at the Africa Cup of Nations with DR Congo, while Adam Le Fondre, Josh Campbell and Jake Doyle-Hayes are set to remain confined to the treatment room.
Dylan Vente will fight to come in and lead the line in their 4-3-3 shape, but Christian Doidge may again get the nod after netting the decisive goal in their Scottish Cup triumph last time out, while Elie Youan will continue to play a key role on the wing having netted a team-high tally of nine goals so far this term.
Elsewhere, Dylan Levitt may come in to form a midfield trio alongside Joe Newell and James Jeggo, while Paul Hanlon and Manchester United loanee Will Fish are bound to again partner up in a back four.
Rangers will remain without key attacker Abdallah Sima, who has notched up 15 goals so far this term, as he is away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, while further problems have been caused in attack by the losses of Danilo and Kemar Roofe to injuries.
Given those absences, Philippe Clement will likely deploy an unchanged front line from their win over Dumbarton in a 4-3-3 shape, with Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland flanking Cyriel Dessers, despite competition from Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Fabio Silva, while Todd Cantwell will offer further attacking support from the midfield.
He should continue to join John Lundstram and Nicolas Raskin, while John Souttar will likely again get the nod alongside Connor Goldson in the middle of the defence with captain James Tavernier hoping to add to his tally of 17 goals this term from the right-hand side.
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Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Whittaker, Fish, Hanlon, Stevenson; Jeggo, Levitt, Newell; Youan, Doidge, Tavares
Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Yilmaz; Cantwell, Lundstram, Raskin; Matondo, Dessers, McCausland
