Boss Mixu Paatelainen has compared Hibernian's physio room to a graveyard as he faces up to an injury crisis at Easter Road.Manager Paatelainen will definitely be without goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay, who limped out of Sunday's Homecoming Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts, and midfielder Dean Shiels.

Among those battling to be fit is captain Rob Jones, who is nursing a calf knock, while star striker Steven Fletcher is currently suspended following his derby dismissal.

"We are the walking wounded right now, the physio's room is like a graveyard of players," said Paatelainen, who is considering appealing Fletcher's red card.

"He is so busy because we have got a lot of injured players to deal with right now so he is working very hard.

"Rob Jones did well to come back from his hamstring problem in time for the game against Hearts at the weekend but then he took a very heavy knock on his calf during the match and is really feeling it at the moment.

"Steven Thicot should be fit in time for this weekend but we also have a few other players who are carrying knocks from the weekend or the past couple of weeks. But that is football and we just have to get on with it right now. There is nothing we can do about it."

Of all Hibs' injury woes, the biggest concern is the recurrence of Shiels' ankle problem. The midfielder met with a specialist last month and was given an injection to aid his recovery.

Paatelainen said in the Edinburgh Evening News: "Dean is still getting treatment and I have to admit that his ankle problem is quite worrying.

"It has lingered now for a couple of months really and it is stopping him from playing regularly and from even taking part in some games.

"I don't know whether something bigger should be done to try to get to the bottom of it because it has obviously been frustrating for the player.

"It is difficult for us because Dean is a quality player who can create things and we are relatively short in that area of the field."

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