LENNON: DAZ NEEDS THE BREAK

HIBS boss Neil Lennon is hopeful the international break will help Darren McGregor recover from his ongoing knee problems.

The defender had to be substituted at half-time in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Dundee after a flare-up that led to fluid in his joints before the match.

Lennon revealed the 32-year-old, who suffered two cruciate ligament injuries in the past, struggles to train much from week to week because of a longstanding knee issue.

But with the Easter Road side not playing again until the trip to St Johnstone a week on Saturday, Lennon is keeping his fingers crossed the lay-off will help the former St Mirren and Rangers stopper shake off the pain.

He said: “Darren has had a long-term, ongoing problem with his knees. He doesn’t train and he didn’t train last season either, a bit like the Paul McGrath scenario, where he’s on the bike for most of the week.

“For the first time in a while he just had a little bit of fluid in the knee on Thursday but it settled down enough for us to think he would be okay.

“He’s a warrior and it takes a lot for him to come off but he was in a bit of discomfort so hopefully the two weeks will help settle it down.”

Lennon was forced into another change 11 minutes from time at Dens Park when on-loan Manchester City youngster Brandon Barker suffered cramp on his first start for the club.

It took the shine off an impressive display from the England Under-20 cap who was twice denied from long range by Scott Bain and wasted a one-on-one chance with the Dundee keeper as Hibs sought a winner.

Lennon added: “He just cramped up.

“He’s deconditioned because he hasn’t played a lot of football.

“I was very pleased with his performance, he’s very exciting. The only thing I could criticise him for was he should have scored.”