Hibs internationals travelling world while gaffer Gray works on crucial recovery plan at East Mains
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
A number Hibs first-team squad members will be restricted to a maximum of just two training sessions before David Gray’s men return to Scottish Premiership action, with international duty dragging key players all over the world during the current break. From Melbourne and Bahrain to Paramaribo and Toronto, not forgetting Ebimpe, Kinsasha, Bridgetown and Leonora, Hibs players will be looking to either forget about their current club woes, rediscover form – or, Gray hopes, find a spark that will help ignite a revival when they return to Edinburgh.
The national team coaches calling up the Hibs regulars certainly sound excited about having ‘their’ players back in action, with Canada boss Jesse Marsch waxing lyrical about the “savviness” of Junior Hoilett – and new Socceroos gaffer Tony Popovic insisting that Martin Boyle “deserves an opportunity” to regain his key role for the Aussies. Gray needs all five of his men to return to HTC fully fit and focused.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWith some possibly not back in training until next Friday, the Hibs manager is likely to have limited time with potentially vital players ahead of an important three-game stretch. Starting on Saturday week, Hibs face Dundee away, Aberdeen at home and Motherwell at Fir Park in the space of eight days that could define the next stage of a difficult season.
Gray has repeatedly said that, from a selfish point of view, he’d love to keep all of his players at East Mains during the international breaks. That applies especially to the current predicament, with so much work to be done before crashing back into domestic action desperately in need of results.
But he understands the benefits of having players represent their country. And sees benefits in it for Hibs, should the individuals return on a high. Let’s take a look, then, at the world travellers chasing major results for their national teams – and hopefully returning to Scotland without any fresh knocks, strains or tweaks.
Junior Hoilett – Canada
The veteran wide man, beginning to look fatigued after carrying a heavy creative burden for Hibs, has been recalled to the Canada squad for their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Suriname. The 34-year-old former Blackburn, QPR and Cardiff star will hope to line up for Jesse Marsch’s first team in both legs of the tie, starting with the away match in Paramaribo on Friday.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMarsch is thrilled to have the 34-year-old, who missed the Copa America with a hamstring injury, back in his squad, revealing: “He’s let us know that he’s always ready. He’s got a little bit of savviness in the final third and an ability to make plays, and his delivery on set pieces can be really valuable for us in these matches. So given the fact there’s potential for us to have the ball a bit more and for us to be able to try to command the game in the opponent’s end … Junior could be someone that could be valuable.”
The second leg of the quarter-final is back home in Toronto next Tuesday night, Canadian time. Could be ‘home’ by Wednesday afternoon and make training on Thursday, if fit.
Martin Boyle – Australia
The winger missed out on Tony Popovic’s first Socceroos squad as he recovered from wrist surgery. But he’s been recalled for the crucial World Cup doubleheader against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
New gaffer Popovic has told everyone that they’re starting with a clean slate. And he’s giving Boyle an opportunity to impress, saying: “Like the other players that have come in for us for the first time, we'll get to see him, a chance for him to work with a new coaching staff. But in the last month, he's played a lot of football.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad

“They've had a lot of midweek games as well, so he's been backing up. He had a wrist injury, so it wasn't a leg injury that stopped him from maintaining his fitness.
“I can still remember how many great games he played for the Socceroos not so long ago. So he deserves an opportunity now that he's fit to show us what he can do.”
The Socceroos take on the Saudis in Melbourne in the wee small hours of Thursday morning, UK time, before travelling to face Bahrain in the second of a World Cup doubleheader next Tuesday night. Boyle could report back to HTC by next Thursday, all going well.
Lewis Miller – Australia
The right back was included in Popovic’s squad despite missing last weekend’s loss to St Mirren with an ankle injury. Given Miller’s exploits during the last international window, it’s no surprise to find the Aussie boss including the Hibs player regardless of knocks or strains.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMiller scored his first international goal as the Socceroos beat China 3-1 in Popovic’s first game, a World Cup qualifier, in Adelaide last month. If you haven’t seen the goal celebrations, check them out here. You won’t be disappointed.
Miller is obviously desperate to continue contributing for the Socceroos, as he looks to bury the memory of being scapegoated for Australia crashing out of the Asian Cup last season. But Gray will be praying that the athletic defender – a useful attacking weapon for his club in a season when goals have been at a premium – comes back fully fit and ready to face Dundee.
Nathan Moriah-Welsh – Guyana
The midfielder has had limited game time for Hibs this season, making just a single league start. But he has been used as a substitute by Gray and, with Nectar Triantis and Hyeokkyu Kwon both hooked at half-time after a miserable 45 minutes against St Mirren last weekend, there are likely to be midfield places up for grabs.
Unfortunately for Hibs, and possibly for Moriah-Welsh’s own club ambitions, the 22-year-old will be halfway across the world as Gray works on a game plan for a trio of all-important Scottish Premiership fixtures. He’s expected to start for Guyana in both legs of their CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers against Barbados, on Friday and next Tuesday, meaning he could make training by next Thursday and Friday.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdRocky Bushiri – Democratic Republic of Congo
A surprise substitute as Warren O’Hora was removed from the firing line after an individual error in Saturday’s first-half horror show at Easter Road, Bushiri would appear to be back in the defensive rotation for Hibs. But he’ll be away on international duty while his team-mates are back at East Mains working on preventing soft goals.
Bushiri, with just a single cap for the DRC, is part of the squad who take on Guinea in the Ivory Coast on Saturday, before welcoming Ethiopia to Kinshasa next Tuesday night. He’ll be home from AFCON duty on the Wednesday and, hopefully, back in training on Thursday.
Rudi Molotnikov - Scotland Under-19s
Hoping to regain his starting place for Hibs, the teenage midfielder isn’t quite clocking up the same air miles as some if his team-mates, venturing no further than Stirling and Greenock. The 19s take on Wales later today before facing Lichtenstein on Saturday and France next Tuesday in a trio of European Under-19 Championship ties.