Tributes to ‘fearless’ Mcbride at funeral
Hibs manager Neil Lennon has admitted to finding himself in a surreal situation, facing one of the Edinburgh club’s biggest games of the season but stripped of two of his key players because of international commitments.
The Easter Road side meet Falkirk at home tomorrow, top of the Championship table and seven points ahead of their opponents who, along with Morton, have emerged as their closest rivals for the title and the one automatic promotion place it carries.
But Lennon will be without Scotland midfielder John Mcginn – part of Gordon Strachan’s squad for Sunday night’s World Cup qualifying match against Slovenia – while goalkeeper Ofir Marciano is in Spain tonight as Israel hope to keep their interest in clinching a place in next year’s finals in Russia alive.
Hibs would have been granted dispensation had three players been called away on international duty but, with only two missing, they are obliged to go ahead with a fixture which could prove pivotal to their target of ending three seasons in the second tier of Scottish football.
Although Mcginn played only 14 minutes of Wednesday night’s friendly against Canada, Strachan afterwards indicated he’d be retaining the 22-year-old for Sunday’s Group F match at Hampden, Lennon acknowledging that while it was “fantastic” for the player “it’s not great for me”.
Lennon was at Easter Road to see Mcginn play a cameo role in the 1-1 draw with Canada. The visitors’ goal came from Falkirk’s Fraser Aird, the winger serving notice that he’ll be one to be watched tomorrow.
“Fraser Aird was excellent,” agreed Lennon. “He was certainly Canada’s best player. He was a threat the whole night and I was very impressed. He scored a good goal and made some great runs. It definitely gave me some food for thought.”
Having taken note of the potential danger of Aird, Lennon was more concerned with what he described as the hindrance of losing both Mcginn and Marciano for such a crucial game. He said: “I spoke with John after the game on Wednesday night and he seemed in a good place. He has another cap won in front of his home crowd, so that’s pretty special.
“He will obviously be involved in some capacity in the game on Sunday which is fantastic for him. It’s not great for me, but he’s playing for his country.”
Hibs supporters had been holding out hope that with the likes of Celtic’s Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and James Forrest available to face Slovenia after being rested in midweek, Strachan may release Mcginn to play for his club in recognition of the importance of their league game the previous day.
But Lennon admitted he’s not counting on such a move. “I’ve not spoken to Gordon about it,” he added. “He is under Gordon’s jurisdiction with Scotland, he’s their player and if Gordon wasn’t going to use him then I’m sure I would know by now.
“It’s a bit of a surreal situation, really, that we have to go ahead with the game – a really important game – with two of our most important players going away with their country.
“I’m not sure if you would call it punishment, but it is definitely a hindrance.”
Ironically for Hibs it has been Marciano’s performanc- 0 John Mcginn, left, is set to feature for Scotland again on Sunday, while Ofir Marciano is on duty with Israel in Spain. es for the capital club which have earned him a recall to the Israeli squad. The 26-year-old, who had previously made ten appearances for his country, had fallen out of favour under new coach Elisha Levy.
Lennon said: “Ofir has had a very good season and, once he got over his injuries, he’s been very consistent. It just shows what a good season we are having that it has got Ofi back into the Israel manager’s thinking while John has been involved with Scotland for the last 18 months.” Derry City football captain Ryan Mcbride knew no fear, mourners have been told at his funeral.
He was an inspirational leader, a priest said at the Requiem Mass in Londonderry.
The defender was found dead at home on Sunday night, aged 27. The cause of death is unknown.