A total of 847 minutes last campaign, equating to just shy of nine and a half full games, and a mere 257 minutes so far this season, working out at an equivalent of nearly three 90-minute matches. Contrast that with 3,539 minutes in all competitions in 2021/22 (39.3 full matches) and that gives some idea of how little football Jake Doyle-Hayes has managed in the last 16 months or so.

It has been a frustrating time for the Irishman, who suffered a freak injury during training in September last year, after a coming-together with then manager Lee Johnson. Doyle-Hayes was eventually forced to undergo surgery after the challenge aggravated an existing issue -  a piece of bone floating in his ankle. 

So began a long road back to fitness and in January this year there was a 26-minute appearance off the bench against Dundee United in a 2-2 draw. But he played just seven minutes during the next five games - another substitute appearance, this time against Kilmarnock in a 2-0 win. After two games on the sidelines he seemed to be back for good; playing well in a 3-1 defeat by Celtic at Parkhead and starting most of the remaining matches. A shoulder injury suffered in the final-day draw with Hearts at Tynecastle sparked fears but he started the first two Europa Conference League games against Inter Club d'Escaldes and made substitute appearances in the first legs against Luzern and former employers Aston Villa. 

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He hasn't been seen since starting and playing 81 minutes of the league opener against former club St Mirren and it emerged that the 24-year-old had suffered a recurrence of the same injury that had dogged him last season. It prompted further surgery and the combative midfielder was on crutches last month - particularly demoralising for him, given his impressive performances towards the end of last season and his suitability, on paper at least, for Montgomery's preferred style of play.

But the head coach is now hopeful that Doyle-Hayes has a clear path to full recovery ahead of him after going under the knife for a second time.

"Jake is still recovering, progressing really well, and he's a player that can add in that midfield area," the Easter Road boss revealed, before explaining that he had endured a similar complaint during his own playing career.

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"Until he's in full training, it's hard to put a date on a return. Once he is in full training, he will need match minutes and bounce games. It's been a complicated one - I had something similar in my career. I had an irritation in my ankle and there was no real reason why. It turned out to be a tiny fragment of bone that was irritating inside the ankle joint. I think Jake's had something similar, they've cleaned that out. The structure of everything in his ankle is perfect so hopefully now he's on the road to recovery."

Doyle-Hayes is among four longer-term absentees at Hibs, with Adam Le Fondre pencilled in for a return to action towards the end of December or start of January, and Chris Cadden and Harry McKirdy also progressing well and chasing their respective comebacks from an Achilles injury and a heart issue early in the new year. 

With Cadden playing a big part last season on the pitch, and fans hoping McKirdy can experience a Jair-esque turnaround in his on-field form Doyle-Hayes has almost been forgotten about, and the performances of his fellow midfielders Jimmy Jeggo, Dylan Levitt, and Joe Newell plus the elevation of youngsters such as Reuben McAllister and Rudi Molotnikov to the senior squad has probably contributed to that. 

Montgomery and the HTC physio team clearly have plans for Doyle-Hayes and don't want to hurry him back. But his ankle being 'perfect' surely bodes well for a player who hasn't had much in the way of luck on the park in recent months. 

"We're definitely not going to rush the boys who are injured, because if you've been on a long-term injury, it's not about rushing, it's about getting them right and being able to compete in the team," he continued. "That's why we've got good medical staff who work every day to try and push them on."

Much will be made of the January transfer window for Hibs, particularly with Montgomery yet to put his stamp on the squad. But with Cadden, McKirdy, and potentially Doyle-Hayes set to be available sooner rather than later, the return of the trio could be just as transformative for the team as three new signings, with the added bonus that all three know the league and have been in the building since the former Central Coast Mariners boss arrived.

Further down the line there might be international aspirations as well - he was capped at under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-21 level and with a new manager on the way there might be a chance of impressing. 

But for Doyle-Hayes, you'd imagine just being able to play consistently at club level without fear of breaking down again would be enough in the short-term.