'Ready to go' - Hibs star Josh Mulligan injury comeback latest as Rangers Ibrox selection addressed

All-action Hibs midfielder Josh Mulligan is “ready to go” for the final two games of the season, according to Easter Road boss David Gray. And the gaffer, who could throw the Scotland hopeful into the fray against Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday night, revealed that only caution over the plastic pitch at Falkirk prevented Mulligan from featuring in the weekend win over the Bairns.

Confirming that the former Dundee ace was “available for selection” after completing two full weeks of training, Gray said he was ready to welcome back a key member of his squad. Mulligan hasn’t played since sustaining a serious ankle injury in January’s shock Scottish Cup loss to Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline.

Former Dundee star an instant Easter Road sensation

The 23-year-old summer signing had already established himself as a stand-out in the starting XI, with his energy and ability on the ball drawing comparisons with a young John McGinn, before he crumpled to the turf at East End Park on a bleak afternoon for Hibs. He’s since required surgery – but is back in full-contact training.

Explaining why he hadn’t put Mulligan on the bench for the weekend win over Falkirk, Gray admitted: "I think the physios will be pretty happy that I didn't throw him in, because I think he's been training really, really well. He looks ready to go.

“There was just a lot of an unknown with the surface.He's obviously coming back from an ankle injury, he hasn't been on the surface at all – it's not as if he's done any rehab on an artificial pitch. So how would his ankle react, how would he be on it?

“It was a risk that we didn't feel was the right thing to do. It's paid off because we've not done that, and he's in a really good place.

“He's been back training for the last couple of weeks, and he's available if selected between now and the end of the season. We appreciate he's been out for a very long time, so there's certainly no pressure on him to be anything. We'll just wait and see how we are for Wednesday."

Euro qualification still on cards

Victory over Falkirk took Hibs five points clear of John McGlynn’s men in fifth place. They’re still four adrift of Motherwell, currently occupying the last guaranteed European qualification spot in fourth place.

Gray’s men can still qualify for the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round – breaking a half-century hoodoo by securing a spot in proper European football for a second consecutive season – by finishing fifth, should Celtic beat Lennon’s Pars in the Scottish Cup final. Even picking up a point against Rangers, now destined to finish no higher than third in the Scottish Premiership after yesterday’s disastrous Old Firm defeat at Celtic Park, would all but guarantee fifth place.

Falkirk would then need to beat Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow night and overcome a massive goal difference deficit on the final weekend of top-flight action, when Hibs host Motherwell – who can wrap up fourth place at home to Celtic tomorrow – and the Bairns host Rangers.

Your next Hibs EXCLUSIVE: Breaking half-century hoodoo would be ‘success’ for Gray’s men