Hibs and their 2021/22 injury hell: 19 players affected, 221 games missed, Covid-19 impact

Nineteen first-team players have sat out a combined 221 games in the Europa Conference League, Scottish Premiership, League Cup, and Scottish Cup competitions due to knocks, injuries, or Covid-19.

The number of total games missed by an individual player range from one to 31. Figures are based on confirmed injuries and illnesses.

The immediate problems are laid bare when comparing availability to last season. Paul Hanlon and Paul McGinn were virtual ever-presents last season but have missed a combined 27 games. Add to that the eight games missed by Ryan Porteous through suspension and Hibs have been without three of their defenders, who often played as a back three last term, for nearly an entire league campaign.

In attack, Christian Doidge and Kevin Nisbet have missed a combined 22 games. The pair netted 31 goals between them last season. The sale of Martin Boyle – still the team’s top scorer for this season – has also contributed to Hibs’ woes in the final third.

The Easter Road side’s luck, or lack of, could well be summed up by the departures of central midfielders Alex Gogic and Melker Hallberg just days before Joe Newell suffered an injury that kept him sidelined for seven games. Obviously the club couldn’t predict Newell’s injury, and the club soldiered on with Josh Campbell, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ewan Henderson, and Lewis Stevenson all filling in in midfield during his absence.

Kyle Magennis has already missed 31 games through injury and will reach at least 37 by the end of the campaign. The midfielder suffered a complex groin strain in the first half of the season before picking up a knee problem in January that later required surgery as he pushed for a return to action under new manager Shaun Maloney.

Defender Sean