Hibernian boss David Gray hoping two Africa Cup of Nations-bound players can face Rangers

David Gray is hopeful that two of Hibernian’s three Africa Cup of Nations-bound players will be able to face Rangers on Monday before joining up with their national teams.

Midfielder Miguel Chaiwa plus defenders Rocky Bushiri and Jordan Obita have been called up by Zambia, DR Congo and Uganda respectively for the showpiece, which gets under way in Morocco next Sunday.

Selected players are supposed to be released from their clubs from Monday, in line with FIFA regulations, but Hibs have held talks with the relevant parties to try to get one last game out of their African contingent before they depart.

Gray was coy on the identity of the players he expected to have available to face Rangers, but it was understood that Chaiwa and Obita were in the frame to feature at Ibrox, with Bushiri likely to miss out.

“There’s still communication and conversations going on with the nations,” the Hibs boss said on Friday afternoon.

“I still expect us to have a couple available, but that might change, so I’ve not got any concrete confirmation as yet, but I expect that should be resolved in the next day or so.

“There are a lot of conversations going on, because we want to try to keep the players as long as we can and the countries want to try to get them as early as they can because they’ve got a major tournament to prepare for.

“I fully understand that as well, so it’s about trying to work out the best solution for everybody. There are a few challenges that we’ve still got to get through between now and the weekend.”

Hibs – by losing three regular starters until the end of December at least – are the William Hill Premiership club worst impacted by AFCON, but Gray is confident they have the squad depth to cope.

“It can be challenging but it’s an opportunity for other players as well, when you look at our squad,” he said.

“Rocky Bushiri is joining up with his national team but Zach Mitchell’s been waiting very patiently and working extremely hard every single day, knowing that this is probably going to come up as well.

“I think that’s one example of how someone else can get an opportunity to try to impress and try to stay in the team.

“At the weekend we didn’t have Nicky Cadden or Jordan Obita against Falkirk so we had Jamie McGrath (predominantly a midfielder) playing wide left.

“We train to be flexible and adaptable and I think that’s hugely important as well.

“You look at Miguel Chaiwa, who’s a midfielder, so who’ll play in the middle of the pitch?

“You’ve got Joe Newell, Alasana Manneh (both returning from injury) and you’ve still got Josh Mulligan who plays in there, Josh Campbell who can play in there, Jamie McGrath.

“So we’ve still got strength and depth in there and players who can play a few positions.”