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David Gray reacts to Kieron Bowie Hibs injury and refuses to blame Scotland 21s boss

David Gray is frustrated by Keiron Bowie's Hibs injury
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


David Gray has refused to blame Scotland under-21s boss Scot Gemmill for Hibs striker Kieron Bowie's injury.

Since moving to Easter Road, the young forward has been gradually eased in with a series of sub appearances after missing much of pre-season. He had shown flashes of what he will bring to the team and that helped him win another call-up to Scotland 21s, where he has been a regular.

Bowie started both matches against Spain and Malta and frustratingly pulled up injured in the second clash. Worse still, a scan revealed it was a bad one which will keep him out of action for four months. It has left Hibees supporters questioning why he was chucked in for two starts when the club had been easing him in.

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The manager himself though has no issues with how the player was handled on international football. He insists the 21-year-old WAS ready to start.

He said: "It's a real frustrating one from our point of view. Kieron has damaged that hamstring again so he's going to be out for a significant period, which is really tough to take considering how positive a start he made and how we managed his minutes since the start of the season.

"Before he went, the dialogue between us and Scotland was to manage his minutes and look after him, so that happened. He'd come off the bench a few times for us so he was due to get a start, that was a natural progression.

"We thought it was the right thing for him to go and do, but you can't predict what's going to happen. It's really frustrating for everyone."