Neil Lennon confirms John McGinn will make immediate return to starting XI – as Hibs boss prepares to make his own dugout comeback

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

NEIL LENNON insists there is no debate regarding whether John McGinn will reclaim his place in the heart of Hibernian’s midfield – as the Easter Road boss prepares to make his own return from suspension.

The capital club have dealt admirably with the absence of their prize asset, defeating Partick Thistle and Hamilton while the Scotland internationalist served a two-game ban due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Marvin Bartley and Steven Whittaker took turns deputising with aplomb, and Lennon believes that is an indication of the Hibees’ strength in depth. However he is adamant McGinn does not need to worry about struggling to regain his starting spot.

“John will be back in the team,” confirmed Lennon. “It’s great that we have the squad to cope without a player of his calibre, but he has been in superb form and he is champing at the bit to play in Dingwall.

“It’s good to have him back because we have missed his drive at times, but I think that would be the case with any team.

“It was positive for [Steven] Whittaker to get 70 minutes in midweek and we had a wee cameo from Swanny [Danny Swanson] as well. [Vykintas] Slivka is almost fit as well. Everyone is itching to play and we have options.

“Brandon Barker could be back in the squad as well, which is a huge bonus going into the next run of games.”

Lennon, meanwhile, will also be back in the dugout in Dingwall after completing his three-game touchline ban for a fiery rant at referee Kevin Clancy during Hibs’ 2-2 draw at Rugby Park in February.

“It’s been torture,” Lennon confessed. “I felt it was a bit unmerited but thankfully it’s done now, so we just get on with it.”

Hibs’ 3-1 triumph over Hamilton saw them move to within one point of third-placed Rangers and remain four adrift of Aberdeen – who face a testing trip to Hearts this weekend – as they firmly insert themselves in the battle to be crowned best of the rest.

Nevertheless, he is loathe to underestimate Ross County, who exploded off the foot of the table with a 4-0 win against Partick Thistle this week.

“It was a great win for Ross County on Tuesday night, and probably much-needed,” Lennon told Hibs TV. “It just illustrates that they do have the ability to do that.

“We’re not taking anything for granted. I went in after the game against Hamilton and said ‘well done, but don’t over-celebrate, let’s go again’. We can reflect on things once the break for the split comes, and get ourselves ready, but for now we have one more really big game which can put us in a very good position.

“It’s a bit of a trek at the end of a difficult week, with three games in seven days, but we have the bit between our teeth.”