New setback for Hibs as utility man is out for three more weeks

Hibs were dealt another blow today as it was revealed Ian Murray, one of boss John Hughes' most experienced stars, has been ruled out of action for the next three weeks.

The 29-year-old utility man has missed the Easter Road club's last two matches suffering from a hip problem, a consultation with a specialist resulting in an injection and the prognosis of further time out.

After featuring in Hibs' two Europa League clashes with Slovenian outfit NK Maribor, Murray has been restricted to just 19 minutes of SPL action after sitting out the first two matches thanks to a suspension carried over from last season.

But, after replacing Derek Riordan in the 1-0 defeat by St Mirren in Paisley, Murray found himself on the bench for the visit of Inverness Caledonian Thistle following the fortnight break as Scotland's European Championship campaign got underway.

Subsequently his name has been missing, Hughes explaining: "Ian had been carrying the problem since the start of the season. We tried to nurse him through, we changed his training regime a bit but it came back and he went to see a specialist.

"He's had an injection and we hope that in the next two or three weeks he will be back. I had a chat at length with him the other day and he's reallypositive, champing at the bit to get going."

Hughes admitted Murray's experience, some 340 matches for Hibs, Rangers and Norwich, had been missed at a time when he's also been without Moroccan playmaker Merouane Zemmama, goalie Graham Stack and new signing Darryl Duffy.

While Stack is back in training having been out since the first day of the season with a back injury, Zemmama isn't expected back in action until nearer Christmas as he recovers from an operation to repair the ruptured cruciate ligament he suffered against Falkirk in March.

Duffy, who broke a metatarsal in his right foot in a freak training ground accident only days after agreeing a season-long loan deal from Bristol Rovers, has also had surgery to insert a pin and has been told he won't play for up to three months.

Hughes said: "We'd brought Darryl here for his pace and movement up front only for him to break his foot before he'd even kicked a ball for us. This time last season we were lucky enough to escape long-term injuries, but we've been dealt a cruel hand at the moment.

"We can't do anything about it but we've managed to continue creating chances by by changing the system a bit which is positive - now we need to be ruthless in front of goal."

n Hibs Under-19s made it three wins in a row as goals from Danny Handling and David Crawford gave them a 2-1 victory over Hamilton at Linlithgow Rose's Prestonfield ground.