Johnson admits ‘ time will tell’ when McGeady will return
UNDER- PRESSURE Hibernian manager Lee Johnson has confessed there remains doubts over a comeback date for marquee summer signing Aiden McGeady.
McGeady has been sidelined since July because of a recurrence of a knee ligament injury and is still awaiting his Premiership debut for the Easter Road side.
Despite now being 36, his absence has been keenly felt by Hibs in attack, where they have struggled to convert enough of their chances to turn some dominant performances into victories.
After Saturday’s narrow 1- 0 defeat to Kilnarnock, the Leith outfit have now lost six of their last seven matches and Johnson is desperate to welcome back injured players Kevin Nisbet, Kyle Magennis, Jake DoyleHayes and Lewis Miller.
However, he admits McGeady, who made four appearances in the League Cup group stage, is still giving him cause for concern, despite the former Celtic and Republic of Ireland winger returning to training in recent days.
Johnson said: “Aiden McGeady, I’m not so sure about. He’s moving pretty well, in terms of his running and he’s still got that scamper of pace over five yards.
“Hibs haven’t seen the real Aiden yet, in terms of his commitment to striking a ball or to leaving his knee lax with a volley or a corner or a free- kick from the edge of the box or a whipped delivery.
“That’s the focus with him. Can he play without pain and trust that that ligament is not going to give way again?
“That’s the only question with him, really. We know his undoubted quality but it’s that pinch we’ve got to try to get rid of. At the moment, he’s doing almost all parts of the sessions, apart from tackling and that full force through his right knee for a shot or a cross. He’s still getting a nip on it. That’s the bit that time will tell on.”