Hibs loanee tipped to come back stronger from breaking ankle, as Airdrie boss offers positive news on injured defender

Airdrie player-boss Rhys McCabe admits he feels for Hibs loanee Murray Aiken after his promising start to the season suffered a big setback with the teenager under going ankle surgery last month.

Bur McCabe is backing the 18-year-old to come back stronger in the new year.

Aiken fractured his ankle in their Halloween defeat to Dundee United and has now been ruled out for at least three months.

It is a blow to the player and the club, having made an impressive impact since joining on a season-long loan from Hibs in the summer.

Aiken had become a regular, making 16 appearances before his injury, and the Diamonds will miss his energy and intelligence in the middle of the park over the coming months.

McCabe said: "Murray picked up a fracture on his ankle and required surgery, which is not great for him.

"He is a young player and he is going to have to learn to deal with setbacks in all different shapes and forms.

"He started the season so well having been a bit of an unknown to the fans that come to watch, but I watched Murray - and I put a lot research into the younger lads and what I think they can add to our squad - and we were just seeing him start to hit the form we thought he was capable of.

"He brings that energy and dynamism in the middle of the park. He gets about really well and compliments our good footballers, so it is just unfortunate.

"He is a good kid and he will work hard off the pitch to make sure he comes back bigger and stronger.

"We are talking about into the new year before he is back.

"It is about a three-month period for this. He is in a moonboot right now so he'll be in that for 6-8 weeks and then it will be a gradual process of building him up from there.

"The good thing is, he is a really fit boy