'Quality Hibs player' could be set for injury return soon

Jake Doyle-Hayes hasn't featured in a competitive game since August 6, when he played 81 minutes of the 3-2 home defeat by former side St Mirren.

The Irishman's issues began last season when, after featuring in the first eight league games, he sustained an ankle injury after being tackled by former manager Lee Johnson during a training session which kept him out for the best part of four months.

He returned in January but experienced ongoing issues with it and was in and out of the squad before making what seemed like a permanent return to fitness before sustaining a shoulder injury in the final game of the campaign against Hearts at Tynecastle. 

Doyle-Hayes recovered from that setback to feature in four of Hibs' six UEFA Europa Conference League matches against Inter Club d'Escaldes, Luzern, and former club Aston Villa, but his last first-team appearance was from the start in the season's curtain-raiser when he played as one of two sixes in a 4231 formation alongside Joe Newell. 

He hasn't yet featured under Johnson's successor Montgomery, but the former Central Coast Mariners man hinted that the 25-year-old could make his long-awaited return to the pitch before the end of the current campaign. On more than one occasion the Easter Road head coach has predicted that Doyle-Hayes was 'a couple of weeks away' from returning but admitted the midfielder's injury problems have been complicated. 

“No one can deny Jake is a quality player, and a really important player for the club. There is no doubt he’s been through a difficult time," Montgomery said, when asked about Doyle-Hayes.

“I’m sure if you speak to Jake, he’ll tell you there’s been a lot of frustration, and probably a lot of anger, because he’s been out a lot longer than he expected. Sometimes injuries aren’t straightforward, and the recovery doesn’t quite go to plan.

“He’s been working really hard. But it’s tough not having that social aspect of just being around your team-mates. I’ve been there as a player, and it’s a very lonely place when you are injured and everyone is training and people are coming back before you. But we have a great team here getting behind him.

“Chris Cadden is a great example; a player who was out for a long time but got really integrated into the team. Everyone was excited to see Chris come back, and it will be exactly the same for Jake. Hopefully, we can see him back in a Hibs shirt before the end of the season."

Montgomery will also hope to be boosted by the return to action of Luke Amos, Lewis Miller, and Dylan Vente. Miller hasn't featured since he was forced off during the first half of last month's 2-2 draw with Ross County in Dingwall, while Vente last played during the 2-0 victory over Ross County at Easter Road after an ankle injury forced a spell on the sidelines. January signing Amos came on as a second-half substitute during the 2-1 victory over Dundee in mid-February but a muscle injury has kept him out of action since. 

However, all three featured in Monday's open training session at Easter Road, offering hope the trio could be primed for a return to action - although Saturday's crunch top-six shoot-out with Motherwell may come too soon for Amos, given his lack of action prior to signing for Hibs, but Montgomery may be hopeful of getting Miller and Vente back into the matchday squad to follow Josh Campbell's return to action after a three-month lay-off with a knee and ankle problem. 

“They’re progressing really well and working really hard. It’s important we don’t rush them back. When they do come back they’ll make a real difference to the squad," the Hibs boss added. 

Doyle-Hayes sat out the session but was at Easter Road, while on-loan Bournemouth playmaker Emiliano Marcondes played no part in the low-intensity session either. The Dane is nursing a minor injury but could be available for Saturday's trip to Fir Park.