Ross braced for Mallan exit in January window
JACK ROSS insists he does not want to lose Stevie Mallan but has confessed the midfielder could leave Hibernian before the transfer window shuts.
And Ross admits he is also preparing a plan b in case the rumoured interest in defenders Ryan Porteous and Josh Doig leads to any concrete offers.
Mallan has been frustrated on the fringes of the side this season and was left out of Saturday’s Betfred Cup defeat to St Johnstone as he came close to departing on loan for Turkish side Yeni Malatyaspor.
“Stevie isn’t a player I was keen to lose,” said Ross, “But he’s been frustrated about not playing as much as he would like lately. A relatively unique opportunity came up for him to go overseas and it looked like it would happen, but it’s stalled a bit.
“For the time being, he’s back in the squad but that could change. It’s been a topsy-turvy few days for him but he’s back training and will be with us unless anything changes. We will see what the next few days brings.”
Porteous is said to be a “live” target for Millwall in the English Championship, whilst Doig – who has been a revelation at left-back in his maiden campaign for Hibs – is said to be attracting admiring glances from Stoke City and Sunderland.
“We’ve had young players who have performed well this season and there have been notes of interest from clubs,” admitted Ross. “As it stands, nothing as of today that would see any of those young players depart.
“But we will see what happens in the days left in the window. I’m loathed to say with certainty that nothing will ever happen because it could change. But not at the moment; they are where they are.
“I try to take a broad minded approach to management and try to see the broader picture from the club’s point of view. There’s no duress we are put under to sell players.
“But there will always be potentially the right time and the right situation for players to move on if it makes business sense for the club and the player’s development. I’m okay about that. The lines of communication with the owner [Ron Gordon] are good.
“You have to have a list of potential players that we could bring to the club in any eventuality. You need to have that contingency because it’s a fairly unpredictable industry.”
Ross will be hoping there is no disruption to his squad before the visit of Rangers this evening. The Easter Road outfit already have a significant challenge on their hands facing the Premiership champions elect before factoring in player departures and Saturday’s meek loss at Hampden.
Ross was angered by his side’s second-half capitulation against St Johnstone, a game they eventually lost 3-0, and questioned his player’s “courage and character” after the defeat.
He is hopeful however that the self-doubt that appeared to strike them against Saints can be wiped away with a positive performance against Rangers.
“I don’t mean to be flippant, but it is human nature,” he said when asked about his team losing their resilience. “Usually, the guys who get to the very top have the strongest mindsets as well as having talent.
“The guys here have got to a very, very good level because, I would argue, their mindset is a lot stronger than those who don’t get to that level. But they will still have flaws, like all of us have, and weaknesses at times. “I think acknowledging is a good starting point rather than shying away from it and pretending it’s not there. Our reaction at the weekend wasn’t good but it can be and it has been in the past, so it is about us encouraging them and reminding them. “But there’s no point in just talking about it, you’ve got to action it, and the only way to do that is on the pitch and we have the chance to do that right away.”