UNDERCOOKED
Hibs boss Lee admits his side WON’T be ready for big kick-off
LEE JOHNSON has confessed Hibs won’t be in peak condition for the start of the Premiership season.
Johnson had already been concerned by the late return date for pre-season that had been set by predecessor Shaun Maloney.
And he continues to be frustrated by the red tape preventing him from handing debuts to Jair Tavares and Elie Youan.
New left-back Marijan Cabraja is in a similar situation as he attempts to get his hands on a work visa after making the switch from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
Johnson is also without injured quartet Paul Hanlon, Kyle Magennis, Kevin Nisbet and Demi Mitchell as Hibs attempt to get their Premier League Sport Cup group campaign back on track with victory at Bonnyrigg Rose tomorrow following a shock loss to Falkirk on Tuesday.
Johnson, whose team kick off the league campaign against St Johnstone in a fortnight, said: “It will be four or five games into the league season before we start seeing the fruits of our labour because everybody is on a different journey here.
“Aiden McGeady, for example, has had six months out, he then didn’t do the first week, then he had nine days training on the spin, then missed four days.
“Then Elie came across to Portugal, did well and got some good work, then had to go back to France to deal with a passport situation.
“He only came back to the country two or three days ago.
“So it’s like a Rubik’s cube at the moment trying to fit everyone in and getting everyone to their peak.
“The situation with the work permits has started to worry me a little bit but only because I want the options and that’s from a selfish point of view.
“I want the depth and the options but I want the depth that’s ready tactically, physically, and mentally.
“That’s the bit where I don’t think you’ll be able to see the true us until 10 or 12 games in because that won’t be ready.”
Johnson, who has striker Momodou Bojang available tomorrow after the Gambian finally arrived in Edinburgh earlier this week, insists he has no qualms about being judged on results now despite his personnel issues.
The Hibs boss, whose team were booed off at Falkirk after the 1-0 defeat, said: “It’s par for the course, isn’t it? You’re judged every three days in football.
“I’m fine with it – I’m the one who knows the masterplan, not everyone else does. “I’m very confident in what we’ve got. I’ve got a strong
belief in the squad we’re building. I suppose my frustration is not being able to fast-track that team-building process.
“That’s the bit that’s just starting to niggle. Time’s running out on me a little bit in that someone who would probably be in my starting XI in my mind’s eye, can no longer be in the starting XI for the first game due to unforeseen circumstances.
“And that’s just starting to frustrate me a wee bit now.”
Meanwhile striker Elias Melkersen believes Johnson’s high-pressing game can only be good for him in his bid to bang in the goals after admitting he was frustrated by the slow buildup approach preferred by former boss Maloney.
Melkersen said: “The forwards want to have more balls in the box and have more chances than last season and the gaffer’s playing style suits us perfectly.
“When you do 100 runs and never get the ball then you get frustrated, this style is very good.”