Kyle Magennis: Hibs boss Lee Johnson's comments about players leaving was no shock

Hibernian midfielder Kyle Magennis says there was nothing shocking about manager Lee Johnson’s plan to clear some players out of the club.

Johnson surprised some people in the wake of Hibs’ 3-0 derby defat to Hearts when he talked about being “sick of the mediocrity” and criticising previous signings at Easter Road. After a defeat that left the team on a run of nine defeats in 11 games, the manager promised changes to the squad as soon as possible.

He said: “There’s a lot of average squad players, too many. I’d rather get rid of 10 and sign one that is high quality. We have made mistakes, it’s as simple as that.”

Magennis said that the comments weren’t news to the players in the dressing room, with Johnson already having told some to find new clubs.

“I think it’s come out sounding worse than it was, about the ten players that need to go,” the midfielder said. “He’s already had individual conversations with those players previous to the game so everybody knew.

“The way it’s come out, it’s looked as if he’s just said ten players need to go but it’s not like that. It’s not as if it’s a shock that he’s come out in the media and said that.

“It happens every year, whether it is January or summer, boys need to go. But everybody is in good spirits and we’re looking forward to the game on Sunday.”

The former St Mirren player has seen his time at Easter Road disrupted by injuries and he admitted it had good to hear from Johnson that he was a part of the plans for the future.

“It is a massive boost,” he said. “With my injuries I could easily have been the one that was not part of his plans but he has backed me.

“It has been hard for me in the last year or two with injuries but I am feeling good and training every day which is something.

“I haven’t done over the last two years. It has been stop-start. I am ready to play.”