Hibs midfielder John McGinn in line to return for Dundee United clash

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Hibs head coach Neil Lennon admits influential Scotland midfielder John McGinn could return from a seven-week lay-off in Friday’s top of the table Championship clash with Dundee United.

McGinn has been sidelined since the November 19 victory over Queen of the South after undergoing an operation to rectify a calcified bone in his ankle.

But the 22-year-old took part in the warm-up before Saturday’s hard-fought 2-1 success at Falkirk and is set to rejoin his team-mates on the training pitch at their East Mains base ahead of the visit of Ray McKinnon’s team.

Lennon also admitted that goalkeeper Ofir Marciano and midfielder Fraser Fvyie are also making good progress from respective knee and groin injuries respectively.

The former Celtic manager, whose team regained their place at the summit with the win over the Bairns, said: “It was good to have John out doing that warm-up and he may train this week. He may have a chance for Friday.

“Marciano is not far away and Fyvie is not far away. We have important players missing and we’ve had to work our way through it but we’re doing okay.”

Lennon, meanwhile, praised Jason Cumming’s prowess in the final third after the striker notched his 10th goal of the campaign against Falkirk with a fine finish inside the box.

The marksman, who has recently been kept out of the side by Martin Boyle, brought Hibs level after Craig Sibbald opened the scoring.

Lennon, who watched on loan Celtic playmaker Kris Commons score a ferocious free-kick in the 87th minute, added: “It’s Jason in a nutshell really, he’s not in the game and didn’t start the game very well but you always think he’s a threat.

“He took his goal brilliantly and that’s him into double figures for the season, and he’s missed a fair chunk of the games because of Martin’s form.

“He can be very pleased with his contribution, we took him off just to give more spark and vitality to the attack.”

Lennon could hand a debut to new recruit Chris Humphrey against United after the club completed the signing of the former Motherwell winger during the weekend.

Humphrey had been released at Preston North End after struggling for game time at the English Championship outfit.