Skipper Jones set to return

HIBS skipper Rob Jones' hopes of making a return to action in Saturday's SPL clash with Falkirk have risen considerably after the towering defender took part in a practice match, boss John Collins revealed today.

The 6ft 7in central defender missed the defeats away to Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle as a result of a niggling groin problem suffered during a training session just prior to the trip to Pittodrie.

The injury prompted a visit to a specialist but that consultation confirmed there were no tears and the former Grimsby Town star returned to training at the beginning of this week under the watchful eye of physio Colin McLelland.

His rehabilitation programme went well enough for Jones to take part in a game among Collins' squad, and he came through it with no apparent problems.

Collins said: "We'll see how Rob is today but at the moment it is looking very promising."

The Hibs manager admitted he was anxious to see Jones return as Hibs bid to end a run which has seen them pick up just five points out of a possible 21, although they have managed to retain a place among the top four in the SPL table.

He admitted Jones had been badly missed, particularly against the Dons, and with Falkirk boasting tall frontmen in Pedro Moutinho, Michael Higdon and Graham Barrett, Collins would like to have his captain's height back in the defence to counter the threat. Collins said: "There's no doubt we missed him at Aberdeen, who had a big striker, less so at Inverness where young Darren McCormack did very well.

"But Falkirk have a few big strikers and they tend to play the ball long to start with and then play their football so it is important we win our headers."

Moroccan striker Abdessalam Benjelloun and Northern Ireland internationalist Dean Shiels will be in Collins' thoughts having missed the trip to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

Collins said: "We have a full squad to choose from, there's no-one in the treatment room which is a very pleasing situation."

Teenage striker Damon Gray pressed his claim for consideration as he took his tally for the reserves to nine when scoring both goals, the first from the penalty spot, as Hibs beat Falkirk 2-0 to move into second place in the league table.

Although he made five appearances last season, scoring at Pittodrie, the 19-year-old hasn't featured at all in this campaign but his goals haven't gone unnoticed by Collins although he has five senior strikers ahead of the Geordie youngster at the moment. Collins said: "We had a very young team out at Falkirk yesterday but they put in an excellent performance, Damon is starting to get among the goals which brings confidence to any striker."

However, with the reserve league beginning a winter break after Hibs play Motherwell at Almondvale on Tuesday, Collins is considering allowing a number of his younger players, including Gray, to spend next month on loan to keep them in action.

Hibs reserves v Falkirk: McNeil, Welsh, Mailey, Tolmie (Moyes 76), Notman (Currie 85), Lynch, Wilson, Ayre, Cropley, Gray, Campbell.