Colin Nish has vented his frustration at the Scottish Football Association disciplinary system after being banned for next weekend's Edinburgh derby.

Hibernian striker Nish was handed a three-match suspension after being sent off in the 5-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat at St Johnstone on February 17.

But due to the SFA's arcane disciplinary rules, the ban has ended up being staggered across five games, meaning manager John Hughes has been forced to yo-yo Nish in and out of his squad recently and Nish said: "I think the fact that I miss the Hearts game next week is really a killer for me."

Nish, who is available for Saturday's Active Nation Scottish Cup quarter-final with Ross County added: "I got sent off a good wee while ago - there must've been loads of games in between. I think it could be the fifth or sixth game after my suspension.

"I only have a three-game ban so I could've been doing with missing them all on a run.

"But there's not much you can do about it so you've just got to get on with it.

"I've played a couple of bounce games in the weeks I've not been able to play. It's sort of kept me ticking over a little bit.

"But it'd be nice to get a wee run back in the first team. I played against St Johnstone and I was back out last week.

"We'll have to see what happens this week - hopefully I'll be back in."