Rocky Bushiri banishes Hibs rammy talk as defender switches focus to moving on from injury misery

Rocky Bushiri insists he’ll never back down from backing up his Hibs mates - even though he’ll miss the first two league games of the season for his part in May’s Tynecastle tear-up.

The powerful defender was right in the heart of the ruck again as Saturday’s pre-season friendly win over FC Europa in Marbella threatened to boil over in a Spanish heatwave. An x-rated challenge on Elie Youan from the Gibraltar side’s Nicholas Pozo saw tempers flare and Bushiri was first on scene to protect his team mate. But while Rocky pulls no punches in the heat of battle he admits the fallout from the derby chaos that closed the season and saw him hit with a two game ban is a source of huge frustration.

The Belgian defender was an unused sub but couldn’t avoid getting involved as all hell broke loose at the final whistle and fists, insults and even hot water bottles flew. He insists he’s forgotten about it but the pain at missing the Premiership opener at home to St Mirren and then the trip to face Motherwell is lingering on. And the scenes at Estepona Football Centre on Saturday might well have brought it all flooding back.

He said: “I did not see the challenge on Elie too well because I was moving up the park but I heard the noise and then saw everyone come together. You need to relax in those kind of games because there’s a big season ahead with Europe as well.

“Thankfully Elie wasn’t injured. I will stand up for my team always. It happens in football and you see it. We have forgotten about it. We’ve not a spoken about it since.

“Let’s forget about Tynecastle! It’s a new season. That happened and it happens in football everywhere. You have to move on. It’s not nice to miss the first two games. You are doing pre-season and looking