Hibernian have suffered another blow to their squad as they confirm that two players will be out for the rest of the season due to injury.
The club has announced that midfielder Ryan Christie and defender Jordan Rossiter are both set to undergo surgery in the coming weeks.
Christie, who joined Hibs from Dundee United last summer, was expected to make a significant impact at the club but has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after suffering a knee ligament injury during pre-season training.
Rossiter, meanwhile, joins Christie on the sidelines with a torn cruciate ligament sustained in his first competitive appearance for the club.
The news is a blow to Hibs' hopes of competing for promotion this season, as they currently sit just outside the play-off places in the Scottish Premiership.
However, manager John McGlynn has vowed to remain positive and continue building a strong squad ahead of next season.
"We're obviously disappointed by these developments," said McGlynn. "But we'll work hard to ensure we have a strong squad ready to compete for promotion next season."
With both Christie and Rossiter out of action, Hibs will be without two key midfielders and defenders respectively. This could pose a major challenge for the club as they look to maintain their position in the top flight.
Despite the setback, McGlynn remains optimistic about the future of the team and believes that they can still achieve success despite the injuries.
"We've got some tough challenges ahead of us, but I'm confident that we can overcome them," he said. "We'll do everything we can to keep our squad healthy and fit so that we can compete for promotion."