The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Murray can move out on loan with Ross’s blessing
HIBERNIAN: Head coach allows Pars target to go in search of first-team football
Hibernian head coach Jack Ross has paved the way for Dunfermline target Fraser Murray to leave Easter Road on loan.
The 21-year-old is attracting strong interest from the Pars and talks regarding a deal have already taken place.
Dundee were close to snapping up the youngster in January and could yet rekindle their pursuit.
And Ross has underlined the importance of ensuring one of the club’s promising prospects does not stagnate this season.
Murray has already made 29 appearances for the capital club but is behind Alex Gogic, Joe Newell, Scott Allan, Stevie Mallan and Daryl Horgan in the pecking order at Easter Road – and has not featured this term.
Ross explained: “I would anticipate that Fraser will go out on loan. We’ve already chatted about it.
“He was really keen on it last season and we had something arranged for him. But we ended up a bit short and needed him.
“He made some appearances for me in the latter part of last season but we feel we have enough options in that area of the pitch to allow him to go now.
“We can’t pad out our squad by blocking players’ development. He’ll benefit from it and he’s keen to do it, as well.
“He’s at an important stage of his career and I don’t want to inhibit his development by just having him hanging around the first team here.
“If he’s not going to play regularly here, he needs to play regularly elsewhere because he’s got a lot of ability and potential – just not a lot of first-team experience.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Mallan has hit a major milestone on his comeback trail after emerging unscathed from a bounce game on Wednesday.
Mallan, 24, played the full 90 minutes as the Hibees succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against Livingston at the club’s East Lothian training base, showing no ill effects of the persistent knee complaint which has plagued him.
The playmaker, who underwent surgery to repair the issue at the start of the year, has not featured in a competitive game since the Hibees’ 2-0 triumph over Hearts last December.
However, he is closing in on a long-awaited first-team return following his friendly outing against the Lions.
Mallan will now be in contention for Sunday’s trip to Mcdiarmid Park to take on St Johnstone.
The fixture, which also saw Sean Mackie step up his recovery from an ankle injury, was arranged to give Hibs’ fringe stars a much-needed run-out.
Ross has largely utilised the same players during Hibs’ unbeaten start to the campaign and this allowed the likes of captain David Gray, Darren Mcgregor, Lewis Stevenson, Melker Hallberg and Jamie Gullan to get valuable minutes under their belts.