FITTEST FOR CLUBS Hibs doctor tries to maintain levels

HIBS have demanded their stars to remain in peak condition despite Scottish football’s enforced shut-down – while steering well clear of the gym.

Easter Road sports medicine chief Nathan Ring has revealed that every player has been given a strength and conditioning programme to ensure they are in fine fettle when they report back for training, whenever that may be.

Ring, who also works for the England under-21 side, has confirmed that each individual has been given minimum targets, but fully expects them to exceed those figures.

Ring explained: “On Friday we informed the players that there should be no international travel, that gyms were out of bounds and that they were to avoid busy, crowded, unfamiliar places and to take the necessary precautions that everyone should be adhering to. Even though these are uncertain times and the remaining fixtures cannot be scheduled, at this point we still expect players to maintain their fitness.

“The plan is to return to HTC [Hibernian training centre] in the future.

Until then the players have been given training plans to maintain their fitness while they’re away from the club.

“Colin Clancy, our lead sport scientist, has set the players a programme of work to be carried out off-site this week. At this stage, we have to prepare for every eventuality and that means the players need to continue working hard away from the club.

“A minimum standard has been set in terms of independent training sessions carried out, but we would expect all our players to exceed these requirements.”