Hibernian skipper Liam Craig has declared himself fit to face Alloa this weekend after sitting out his first game through injury in over four years.
Craig missed a return to old club Falkirk on Saturday after failing a fitness test on a hamstring strain that flared up in the Scottish Cup victory over Alloa seven days previously. The 27-year-old was missed from the Hibs midfield at the weekend as they went down to a 1-0 defeat to the Bairns with a meek performance that ended six straight away wins. However, the former St Johnstone and Ipswich Town player returned to training on Monday and is determined to help the Easter Road side bounce back from their disappointment with victory over Alloa. He said: "I've been back training and I'm available for selection again. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways on Saturday. "Saturday's game at Falkirk was the first one that I've missed through injury for four-and-a-half years, so that was disappointing - and the result was equally disappointing. "But we know what we need to do against Alloa on Saturday. We need to react positively and win.
"I'm looking forward to the game and I feel good after training on Monday and Tuesday."
Alan Stubbs, the head coach, confirmed that Hibs have run the rule over Stranraer's David Mitchell and Jackson Longridge, but he insisted the pair are just two names on an extensive list being worked through by scouts.
Keeper Mitchell, 24, and Longridge, a 19-year-old left-back, have been assessed by the Easter Road outfit in recent weeks, but Stubbs has rejected claims by Stranraer manager Stephen Aitken that Hibs had been a constant presence at the Blues' games.
Stubbs, who is keen on adding up to four new faces to his squad next month, added: "Supposedly we've had them watched 10 times, but I can categorically say that is not the case.
"We've watched them a couple of times. It doesn't mean we're interested or not interested. We're just actively looking everywhere at this moment in time at players who have been flagged up."
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