Steven Fletcher is gutted his strike partnership with Colin Nish will be on ice for Hibernian's Scottish Cup fifth-round replay with Rangers.Fletcher, 20, has struck up a fine understanding with the more experienced January arrival from Kilmarnock, with both getting in among the goals lately.

But Nish is cup-tied for Sunday's Ibrox showdown courtesy of an appearance in the tournament for his previous employers.

That leaves boss Mixu Paatelainen with a dilemma over who to bring in, with defender Martin Canning also ineligible and injury doubts surrounding goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay, midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin and forward Dean Shiels.

Fletcher admits he will be sorry to see his new sidekick take a seat in the stand when Hibs go head to head with the SPL leaders.

He said: "Nishy has come in and done really well. It seems that we have adapted to each other's game quite quickly and it's been good for us both.

"I have enjoyed playing alongside him since he arrived. We will miss him on Sunday but we have others who are capable of coming in and doing a job."

Clayton Donaldson is one contender to partner Fletcher, and Abdessalam Benjelloun is another, and perhaps the favourite if Paatelainen opts for two strikers.

Fletcher said: "Even if the gaffer brings in Benji or goes with one up front we've got some good goalscorers in midfield so we'll still be capable of getting goals."

Paatelainen may be tempted to stick Fletcher up front on his own and the Scotland Under-21 international insists that would not be a problem.

Fletcher added: "He's the manager and I'll honestly play anywhere and do the job he wants me to."

Fletcher picked up his second SPL Young Player of the Month award this week and that is a sign of the confidence in his game at the moment.

A string of top talent including Steven Whittaker, Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown have all made big-money moves out of the capital recently.

Speculation is rife that Fletcher - Hibernian's top scorer - will be the next to be snapped up by one of Scotland's big two or an English Premier League outfit.

He remains content at Hibs for the moment, but added: "The Premier League is a very big league, one of the biggest in the world.

"Obviously if you get the opportunity to go there you would. But I'm happy to wait and see what happens for me here."

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