Lee Johnson lifts Hibs lid on manic European paperwork rush that almost had Christian Doidge playing GOALKEEPER

Lee Johnson has revealed Hibs were 90 seconds away from having to throw Christian Doidge in goals during Thursday’s Euro salvage job against Inter Escaldes.

A dramatic turn of events between the sticks saw David Marshall injured in the warm-up and his replacement Jojo Wollacott last only 18 minutes before suffering a thigh problem that could see him out for an extended period. Luckily third choice shot-stopper Max Boruc was in the building - and after a frantic pre-match paperwork dash was named on the bench with just over a MINUTE to go until kick off.

That proved vital as the 20-year-old summer signing - who had played a full 90 minutes for the development team a day earlier - was thrown on for his debut after Wollacott went down. Had Boruc not got the green light from UEFA then Johnson admits he would have turned to Doidge to don the gloves for the remaining 72 minutes of the crucial tie.

Instead the Welshman scored an acrobatic third as Hibs stormed to a 6-1 win to overturn the 2-1 deficit from last week’s humbling in Andorra. Boruc could now keep his spot for tomorrow’s Premiership opener at home to St Mirren if Marshall isn’t passed fit with Johnson also scouring the loans market for another keeper.

And the manager said: “If there’s an injury in the warm-up you can go and say we need to make an adjustment to the team sheet. But it did go right to the wire on that one, if I’m honest. I don’t know why that was, but there were a few people involved. And I think it was a case of going through the protocol to get it through. The doctor had to sign off a letter to say it was a genuine injury.

“How long to spare? Oh, not a lot. Probably 90 seconds, I reckon, in terms of Max being on the bench. It was still going on when