He may not have much choice as things stand, but Nick Montgomery is confident there’s no need to hold Chris Cadden back any longer.

After not kicking a ball for the Hibs first team for eight months, owed to a torn achilles, Cadden could end this week just shy of clocking up three consecutive 90 minute shifts. After making his first start since May 27 last year in the Scottish Cup defeat to Rangers last Sunday, the 27-year-old was summoned early from the bench to replace the injured Lewis Miller in Dingwall on Wednesday. 

With Miller likely to miss Livingston's visit to Easter Road, it will likely be Cadden at right-back once more this afternoon. The jump from brief substitute appearances to motoring up and down the flank three times in six days might put the sports science department ever so slightly on edge, but Montgomery is adamant the foundations laid by Cadden during his gruelling rehabilitation process ensure he is ready for this sudden return to prominence.

“I didn’t start him against Ross County - he wanted to start but with Lewis coming back in I thought it was a good opportunity [to rotate]," said the Hibs manager.  "When he came on, you know what you’re going to get from Chris Cadden. Every time. It wasn’t a risk because of work he’s put in off the field since he’s been out. He’s a fantastic athlete and his attitude is spot on.

“He can play the games, but we try to manage that. He had to come on in the first-half and I thought he was fantastic again.

“I’ve no worries playing Chrissy on Saturday, then there’s a two-week break for him to recover, and carry on building himself up to where we know he can get."

Clawing back from a long-term lay-off is not simply about regaining peak physical condition, either. There are psychological hurdles to be cleared, but Montgomery sees a player who, in his own mind, feels he is now back operating exactly where he belongs.

“He’s definitely at that point," said the manager. "With the medical staff, we dealt with the rehab really cautiously, we definitely didn’t rush him back. He’s played a lot of reserve games on synthetic pitches – some dodgy pitches! He’s in a good place and we’ve prepared him well.

“Psychologically, he’s one of the strongest players you’ll come across. I spoke to him many, many times when he was injured over the last couple of months, and he’s visualised coming back, getting in the team and performing the way he has.

“That’s why he came in against Rangers for his first start and performed the way he did. That doesn’t happen if you don’t put a lot of work in, mentally and physically.

“He’s a fantastic professional, a great guy, and his performances have been very, very high for someone who’s been out for so long, which is testament to him."

Montgomery also brought Adam Le Fondre off the bench for the 2-2 midweek draw in Dingwall, the striker's half-time introduction proving the catalyst for an improved Hibs display - concession of a 98th minute equaliser notwithstanding. The 37-year-old forward's patience has been put to the test since overcoming a knee ligament problem sustained in October and, after Wednesday's match, Le Fondre revealed he'd dropped his manager the odd not-so-subtle hint that he was pining for a chance. The January arrival of Emiliano Marcondes led Le Fondre to suggest to his manager that the two of them might just get on well at the top of the pitch, and Montgomery's reply was suitably to the point.

"Just get back fit!"

Le Fondre's clinical finish - albeit with Joe Newell the provider - suggested he may have a point should he and Marcondes be given time to familiarise, especially with Dylan Vente out injured this weekend.

He did text me when I brought in Emiliano, a really intelligent footballer, links the play really well in that 9/10 role," said Montgomery. "Alfie said he can’t wait to get back fit because he is the sort of player that with his movement, you need to be looking for him.

"He is always on the move, getting blind side of defenders and when you have players like that you need players to see that movement and the likes of Emi, Myziane, Elie Youan, Jair - we’ve got a lot of intelligent players that can find him in the right moves. In the last couple of months we’ve created a lot of chances where possibly we should have capitalised and not.

"Alfie is the sort of player that pops up in the box, he is a great player and I have a lot of time for Alfie and it’s good to have him back fit especially with Vente picking up a knock."