Hibs depth chart on day one of pre-season: Starters, back-ups and break-glass-in-emergency-only options
Defender will compete for game time from start - and will five forwards be one too many?
Day one of pre-season and already David Gray will be looking at the depth chart hanging behind his desk at East Mains. Hoping to add a few faces to the collection already on board … and wondering who might move from fringe to first XI in the months ahead.
As players who reported back for duty today recover from the first bout of testing and physical prep needed to get the wheels moving again, everyone will have an idea of where they stand. And where they want to be.
Who would you name as your guaranteed starters? And where do you think Hibs need to strengthen most? Assuming no radical change of formation, here’s how we think Gray’s group shapes up.
Building from the back
Raphael Sallinger is the established No. 1, with Jordan Smith established as the back-up goalie. Both are under contract until the end of NEXT season – that’s the 2027-28 campaign – so should be in direct competition for a while, with 21-year-old Murray Johnson entering the final year of his deal.
Across the back three, Warren O’Hora was the top defensive performer for Hibs last season, while Grant Hanley – one misjudgement against Morocco aside – offers obvious international quality. On the left of the back line, Jack Iredale found himself under pressure from Jordan Obita at times last season.
But the arrival of Jason Kerr, a former Scottish Cup and League Cup Double winner with St Johnstone, definitely gives Gray more options. Even though the long-term injury to Rocky Bushiri robs him of a genuine dominator in defence.
With Hibs likely to add one more central defender, the aim must be to improve on the number of goals conceded. The Easter Road side finished the season ranked fifth on that metric, reflecting their league place with perfect accuracy.
In the engine room
Central midfield looks pretty solid, with trio of Josh Mulligan, Miguel Chaiwa and Jamie McGrath capable of going toe to toe with any domestic opposition. Assuming all three are still Hibs players come the end of the summer transfer window, Callum Wright – close to completing his free agent signing – will have a fight on his hands to get game time.
The same goes for a number of players on the fringes of selection in the middle of the park. Joe Newell needs to prove himself all over again, simply because people will always be hypersensitive to any hint of falling standards after such a lengthy injury absence, while Josh Campbell will be desperate to prove himself more than just an impact sub.
It could be a big year, meanwhile, for Rudi Molotnikov, who missed virtually all of last season with a serious ankle injury that needed surgery. Does the 20-year-old add something different in an attacking midfield role?
Width in depth
Having the right wingbacks is vital to how Gray wants his team to play. He needs both to be good enough, energetic enough and brave enough to attack simultaneously – yet still have the legs to track back if/when the ball is lost.
Felix Passlack has, one moment of Edinburgh Derby madness aside, been a huge hit since his January arrival. So much so that Chris Cadden and Kanayo Megwa are effectively nothing more than back-ups on the right side.
Over on the left, well, Hibs don’t have quite the same strength in depth. Both Nicky Cadden and Jordan Obita will stake a claim for the starting spot. But might face competition from a new arrival, over the coming weeks.
Front and centre
Owen Elding will surely inherit the No. 9 jersey at the start of his first full season with Hibs. The January signing, still just 20, has enjoyed quite the summer to round off a brilliant first few months in Scottish football.
Despite still waiting for the paperwork on his Irish passport, Elding returned from his stint as a training member of the Republic of Ireland squad with his reputation mightily enhanced. The feedback Hibs got from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s coaching staff was that the youngster had simply blown them away with his ability, attitude and work rate.
Assuming the buzz around the centre forward doesn’t lead to bid Hibs simply can’t refuse, then, you’d expect the all-action attacker to lead the line in that first competitive game – either in Albania or Kosovo – on July 23. So who partners him?
Well, Martin Boyle’s contract U-turn certainly provides Gray with an option. Ante Suto will be looking to build on his substitute performances, given a chance.
And then there’s club record signing Thibault Klidje. He’ll get another chance, having failed to make an impact in his first six months following last summer’s £1.5 million move from Luzern – but will have to make the most of early opportunities.
Hibs are still in the market for another forward, too. And you never know what might pop up, in terms of opportunities, before the delayed Deadline Day rolls around on September 3.
For now, though, these are the players on deck, so to speak. All likely to be shuffled around a couple of times, over the course of various friendlies and bounce games, before the real business begins.