Hibs book bounce game amid Premiership break as transfer window and pleasing injury news sparks strong feeling

David Gray feels he’s added a ‘youthful exuberance’ to his Hibs squad in the winter transfer window - as a bounce game is set to keep the squad ticking over.

The Hibees are in the midst of a fortnight break after last weekend’s 3-3 Premiership draw with Dundee left them fifth and seven points off Motherwell in fourth. A game in hand for the Steelmen this weekend at Dundee could stretch that gap between Hibs and the final European qualifier spot, pending the outcome of this term’s Scottish Cup, to a 10-point margin.

Head coach Gray has a new look about his squad with Owen Elding, Kai Andrews, Ante Suto, Dane Scarlett, Felix Passlack and Munashe Garananga all playing their part since the close of the transfer window earlier this year. Gray feels the squad is now in a strong place amid mixed feelings on how the season has panned out in some quarters, with experienced campaigners returning to bolster Hibs further.

David Gray on Hibs transfer window

“I think that's always a challenge,” said Gray. “I say that all the time - can you finish a window stronger than you started? I think we've added a lot of quality, some younger players as well, which bring energy and that youthful exuberance at times. We've also still got some key players and more experienced players to come back to the group as well.

“So you think even just during the periods we've had the Africa Cup of Nations when we lost a few players at that time. Rocky Bushiri was away, Miguel Chaiwa was away, Jordan Obita was away for a period. We got a couple of players back and we got a couple of injuries.

“I know every squad will be the same and I'm not sitting here making excuses at all. Grant Hanley, experienced players like Chris Cadden, Joe Newell, not played a lot of football. These are core players, that understand the standard, and understand what it takes to play for the club. Them coming back into the group, added to the new players we've brought in, puts us in a really strong position. The competition for places is really high which can only be a good thing as well. In training we’ve had a lot of players on the grass for the first time. That can only be a positive at the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, Gray has also confirmed Hibs will play a bounce match this week ahead of their game with Livingston at Easter Road on March 14th. He feels that will be a chance for players who are coming back to full fitness to earn needed match minutes.

Will Hibs play a match this week?

“We'll have a bounce game as well,” Gray said. “There will be players returning from injury that need minutes because of the squad now as well. It's good to have a little bit of repetition. You would rather have games weekly if you can. Obviously we're out of the Scottish Cup, so that's why we find ourselves in that position, but then there are certain players that have been stretched and that have played a lot of minutes. That could probably do with a bit of a deload as well.

“It's probably looking right across the board and looking at the squad. Who really needs minutes, who could do without the minutes. Livingston is the next game after we've almost had a little opportunity to deload some players. That should make them fresher come the back end of the season, rather than burning out, having been stretched. That's the benefit of having the squad where you can rotate a little bit and we'll definitely get minutes into some boys that need it next weekend as well.”

Cameron Congreve’s strike in second half stoppage time has proven a blow to Hibs. One positive Gray does see in a lack of action after disappointment that must be parked is time on the training pitch to work on improvements.

“Some players could do with a rest as well,” added Gray on Hibs TV. “Just because they've been a little bit stretched in recent weeks. The only positive to us not having a competitive game next week is that there is more time on the grass. There is an opportunity to get minutes into players and have a really good training week. One thing we can’t do is affect what’s happened. We have to move on and make sure that we learn from it and we’re better from it, because there is still a lot of football to be played, that’s certainly the mindset.”