Hibs boss hit by double injury blow to defenders

Hibernian boss Neil Lennon has announced Liam Fontaine will be out for up to three months after requiring surgery on an ankle problem.

The 31-year-old defender picked up the injury playing in a recent under20s game for the Edinburgh club.

To add to the defensive woes of Northern Irishman Lennon, Fontaine’s fellow centre-back Darren Mcgregor could be out for up to six weeks after an operation on his knee injury.

Ahead of tday’s home Ladbrokes Premiership game against Motherwell, Lennon said: “We had a real blow with Liam Fontaine. He had a scan on his ankle and it is a lot worse than we thought.

“It was pretty innocuous in the game he played in but the scan showed the ligament has come away from the bone so he needs surgery.

“It is pretty similar to the injury he had last year so he is going to be out for 10 to 12 weeks.

“Darren (Mcgregor) had his surgery on Monday so he is four to six weeks hopefully.”