Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet faces up to nine months out after surgery
The Scotland international picked up a knee injury against Celtic two weeks ago
Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet will be out for seven to nine months following knee surgery.
Easter Road boss Shaun Maloney revealed that the Scotland forward went under the knife on Thursday to repair the injury sustained against Celtic two weeks ago, when he was initially ruled out for the rest of the season.
Maloney said: "Kevin got surgery yesterday in London, it went very well.
"Unfortunately it was an ACL injury so Kevin will be out seven to nine months. But he is still very motivated.
"If, and I think we are all hoping Scotland qualify for the World Cup, then he can still make that squad."
Maloney added: "Speaking to him, he is very motivated to come back a better player and there is no reason, and I have said this to him, that he can't think that he comes back and be the best striker in the league.
"There is a lot of work to do. It is a lonely journey but we will be there every step of the way for him.
"He was very disappointed in the last couple of weeks but I noticed that when I went to see him in London that there was slight change of disappointment to now getting motivated.
"It is very tedious the first few months with his injury but all the work he has to do will benefit him in the long run and he has to be very motivated to come back as the best striker in the league, and achieve something with the national team and there is absolutely no reason he can't do that."