After returning to HTC last week, normal service resumed for our Manager Lee Johnson who has had laser focus on gaining all three points on Saturday.
Speaking to Hibs TV before the game, here’s the three main take aways.
Johnson Is Fit & Raring To Go
After his surgery and health scare, Lee Johnson has been back at HTC working hard with his players ahead of this fixture.
In what was a difficult period for him, he had to watch the Kilmarnock game from home and was constantly on the phone giving instructions to the coaching staff, despite being 45 seconds behind!
Now ready for his return, Johnson reserved special praise for the NHS and the staff at Hibs.
“I feel good. I’ve very grateful to all the NHS staff at the Royal Edinburgh Infirmary.
“The recovery element has been very good, but I wouldn’t wish the first four or five days on my worst enemy. I’m in a good place and I think we are as a club as well.
“The staff at the Football Club have been absolutely fantastic. I still had a lot of input from the sidelines, but everyone from Ben and Ian around the transfer deadline to the staff at HTC for designing training; it’s been outstanding.”
Benefits Of The Break
With last weekend’s matches postponed following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, it meant that our Hibees had extra time on the training pitch.
That allowed Johnson valuable time on the grass – after returning from illness – and allowed him to look at his opening period as Manager.
“The break has been beneficial in a number of ways. We’ve had two or three players back fit which we wouldn’t have had against Dundee United.
“It’s been good for me to be able to assess the first period of management and look at the Club from 10,000 feet, and start to strategize in areas of the Club with other key members of the organisation.
“We’ve also been able to bring in two or three players too and bed them in over the last couple of weeks.”
A Look At Aberdeen
Our opponents currently sit third in the cinch Premiership but are only two points ahead of us in the league table. Our Manager provided his thoughts on them.
“I expect a very strong side. I think they’ve spent well and the players they’ve recruited have been good. I think a win for us would validate the hard work we’ve been putting in at HTC, which is the natural focus.
“We want to be competitive, and this is a very good test for us against a team that we think is a natural competitor.”
