John Hughes is backing Derek Riordan to get back amongst the goals again soon - and his goals are certainly needed with the side going into the game against Kilmarnock knowing that they will need to be picking up three points if their challenge for third place is to remain on track.

In his latest interview for Hibernian TV the manager expressed his own frustration at the downturn in result recently, but there remains an underlying confidence that his side are already showing the signs of working their way out of the current run of poor results: "It is disappointing to have dropped points in the last couple of weeks, I think everyone knows that I am desperate that we get that third spot in the league - and I know that the spirit in our dressing room is there and that they want that as well. Perhaps one or two of them are letting things get on top of them recently, maybe one or two are trying a little bit too hard. I can see a little bit of that in Liam Miller's game where he is trying just a bit too hard in places, but I've said that to them - I'll never say anything to our supporters that I'm not already saying to the players.

"I think we do need to mix our game up a bit more, we can play great football when the pitch is nice and slick but when as now most of the pitches are a bit sticky then we tend to struggle, and I'm taking that on board. But I can't give them any excuses - a reporter asked me the other day if our bubble was burst, I've always said that we are not going to win every game that is put in front of us. I've seen though a great response from the players since the St Johnstone game in Perth, that was a bad one but I could not ask any more of them since. I have of course seen us play better but at this time of the year you first need to dig in and they are doing that, it's just about getting the balance right and finding the wins again."

A player that everyone is expecting to help reignite the Hibernian challenge is Derek Riordan. The striker has fallen behind Anthony Stokes in recent weeks and that is certainly not a situation that will please Riordan, who starts each season with one aim in mind - to end it as top scorer. The manager is pretty certain that the goals will come again for Riordan, but points out that the player is developing a lot more in his game than simply scoring goals: "In terms of technique and finishing Derek Riordan is the best at this club, I remember watching him against Hamilton when the goalkeeper saved a shot and it fell to Derek, he punched a shot with the side of his left foot into the net. Trust me it is only Derek who could do that from the angle he was at, punching the ball in the half-volley into the back of the net.

"I left him out at Motherwell because I did not believe it was his surface that day - but he banged on my door just before we had a bounce game against Partick Thistle asking if he could play. I pointed out it was on the Astroturf and he said that's OK, so he played in the game and we were taking players off and changing things with half an hour to go but Derek said he wanted to stay on. And then on Saturday I felt he worked harder than he has ever done, and I'll tell you why - it's because we keep saying Derek you need to do this, you need to do a lot of things off the ball, and I just feel he is taking all that on board and working a lot harder. I'm sure the goals will come for him again."