John Rankin is just happy to have been back in the Hibernian first team over the last four games - even if it has meant having to adjust to what for him is an entirely new way of playing. The midfielder has been better known for his attacking qualities in that area of the park, but has found himself having to sit back a lot more, but there are no complaints coming from a player who is just delighted to have a role to play in the Hibernian engine-room.

The opportunity for Rankin came as it so often does, through unfortunate circumstances for someone else. Kevin McBride suffered an early injury in the game against St Mirren, that has left the former Motherwell man on the sidelines after turning in some superb performances for the side this season - but he has been more than ably deputised by Rankin: "I'm delighted to be back in the side - I was in after about 12 minutes against St Mirren and that was a difficult game, and then the two home games after that were great to play in.

"I felt we played some great football against Falkirk and Motherwell, we are I think just starting to turn Easter Road into a fortress. These games were enjoyable to play in, we could sit back at some points, I'm playing a different role this season from what I have been in sitting back a bit - you sort of enjoy watching the front four playing, all with their own individual brilliance. They all give something different to the team and it is quite enjoyable just to sit in and let them get on with it, it all adds to my enjoyment of being back in the team."

Rankin is obviously hoping to keep his place in the side for the trip to Pittodrie at the weekend, Hibernian looking not only to stretch their undefeated league run to a dozen games but also to turn their away draws into wins: "We've drawn our last three away games against Hearts, St Mirren and Kilmarnock, and we know we have to start turning these draws into wins at some point. On Saturday it was again disappointing to have to settle for a draw, but then again we came back from being a goal down and again showed some character to battle back into that game, so a draw in the end was probably a good result.

"I'm sure Aberdeen will be pretty fired up for Saturday, they are going into the game on the back of a home defeat and they will certainly remember the last time we met at Easter Road. Some people might think the game on Saturday will be a bit of rough and tumble but I don't think it will be, Aberdeen will be looking to get back the form that allowed them to beat Rangers a couple of weeks ago - we are looking to turn our away draws of late into a win, so I think it could be a very good game."

Off the field the Hibernian squad are a very close-knit group but few more so than Rankin and team-mate Colin Nish, a player he is delighted to see getting some recognition of his own in recent games. Nish has been picked out by manager John Hughes as being his man of the match in recent games, and it is not an opinion that Rankin is about to disagree with: "There is a lot more to Colin Nish than some believe. When you play against him you think that your opponents are just going to play long to him, it's only when you train with Colin that you see the way he conducts himself.

"It's not all about his size - it is more to do with getting the ball to his feet and letting him turn defenders and bring others into the game, and then get into the box take link up again. He is doing well at this moment also in getting back to help myself and Liam in the middle, and we are grateful for the help he provides there. I'm sure as well if he can sneak himself a goal or two in the next couple of weeks we'll see an even bigger difference in him, because he does take a lot from the confidence that scoring goals provides."

John Rankin can be seen now in the latest Hibernian TV player interview