Ross boosted as Allan nears return after health problem

SCOTT ALLAN is set to take a major stride towards a first-team return for Hibs this week.

Missing since August due to an unspecified health issue, the playmaker has been lined up to play in a bounce match for Jack Ross’s side on Tuesday.

Although he won’t be considered for tomorrow’s Premiership trip to Celtic, the 29-year-old could now play a part as Hibs chase down European football in the latter part of the season.

‘Scott is making positive progress,’ said manager Ross. ‘He has now been back in the group for several weeks and his load has increased in that period.

‘Weather permitting, we are hopeful we will have a bounce match on Tuesday that he will be involved in.

‘That’s another big step forward for him.

‘From a health point of view, it’s all going in the right direction. He has not played since August, so it is a long period to be out of the game.

‘There are two aspects to it. First, making sure he is good to go from a health point of view.

‘Second, from an all-round fitness view, making sure he is up to speed.

‘He is getting there. He is getting closer and the bounce game is another step forward.’

With Covid darkening the financial outlook, Hibs made a decision to go with a smaller squad this season and Allan (pictured) was primed for a major role.

With Kevin Nisbet and Joe Newell stepping up to new levels of performance, the team has coped well in the playmaker’s absence.

However, Ross acknowledges that Allan’s eye for a killer pass sets him apart from his team-mates.

He continued: ‘Scott provides creativity in the final third and you would always like to have that in your squad at all points.

‘The more players you have either starting games or coming on who can do arguably the hardest part — creating and scoring goals — the better.

‘We have missed that option within our team.

‘Scott has made a good career out of being able to find those passes that some other players maybe just can’t quite see.

‘It was certainly unforeseen that we would be without him for this period of time. ‘So, if we can get him back fit and available for the last few months of the season, then it would strengthen the squad. ‘Because of the nature of his absence, we have never been working towards any goals in terms of his return.

‘I wouldn’t say we have forgotten about him, I don’t mean it like that at all. We have just had to adjust our thinking in that we were not really aiming for him being back at any particular point of the season.

‘So the fact he is closer to that does give us the confidence that he will improve the group again when he is fit and available.

‘It’s something we parked for a little while — it was best for us and Scott to ensure he was getting back to full health.

‘As he starts to edge closer to being available for games, it’s a positive for us.’