LEWIS SET FOR NEW HIBS DEAL
HIBS manager Jack Ross insists he expects a new deal for Lewis Stevenson to be “taken care of ” in the coming weeks.
The Easter Road club have kicked off talks with keeper Ofir Marciano and midfielder Joe Newell as they approach the final six months of their current agreements.
Stevenson is another who will be out of contract at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old played second fiddle to youngster Josh Doig earlier in the campaign before a run of five starts for Stevenson was brought to an end by an ankle injury sustained against Kilmarnock five weeks ago.
The left-back, who is the only player in the club’s history to have won both the League Cup and Scottish Cup, is back in training and could return to the side away to Motherwell on Saturday.
And Ross fully expects the stalwart to be handed fresh terms for an extended stay at his only club.
He said: “I think Lewis is somebody we wouldn’t be in any rush not to have at the football club.
“It’s not just because of his previous achievements here with Hibs.
“But it’s how he is as a professional – he’s still in f a n t a st i c phy s i ca l condition for a player who is in his 30s now.
“He very rarely misses training or games. This is unusual for him to have suffered an injury and even then he came back earlier than anticipated.
“Lewis, by his own admission, has said he’s often just the easiest player in the world to deal with at Hibs.
“I think both of us are pretty relaxed. He knows my opinion of him and I think I know his opinion of the football club and where he’s at.
“So hopefully that’s something that can be taken care of as the weeks go on.”