Joe Newell laughs off 'heroic' return to action as Hibs midfielder talks Hearts semi-final and Aberdeen test

The midfielder had heavy strapping on his knee and there was talk of him being rushed back with Jake Doyle-Hayes ruled out as the Easter Road side posted a 2-1 win to advance to the last four.

“I was desperate to get back last week. It wasn’t a big heroic return as if I’d not trained for six weeks and gone out and played, I’d trained all week and wanted to play.

"I had strapping on my knee but I’d had that on all week. It was more of a precaution. I was fine and ready to play. When you’re injured, no-one enjoys it. Watching the lads every week, I was dying to get back out there so I was really pleased to do that.”

The backing from the 3,300+ Hibs fans in the away end certainly helped Hibs secure their spot in the semis.

"The fact that it was a big game – a quarter-final – with so much at stake, meant it was a great one to come back in,” Newell continues.

"The atmosphere was electric. We sold out the whole away end.

“It was just a proper cup tie. To be honest, when they got a lad sent off right at the start I was absolutely buzzing as I knew it was going to be a little bit easier for me on my first game back!

“It was a good game to get back for and luckily we got the win.”

The 28-year-old isn’t perhaps known for his Nostradamus tendencies but reveals he called the cup draw right from the start.

“I said earlier that I just knew we’d get Hearts. To play them the week after we go to Tynecastle… it’s hopefully going to be a really good week."

Newell played in the delayed Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts at Hampden in October 2020 in which Liam Boyce’s extra-time penalty sent Hearts through to the final after Christian Doidge had cancelled out Craig Wighton’s opener. With no supporters in the national stadium it was an