Hibs pull curtain back on transfer tactic as David Gray prepares for losing three players to AFCON duty

David Gray has lifted the lid on a key Hibs signing tactic - as he prepares for losing three stars this winter to the Africa Cup of Nations.

The major tournament will take place between December 21st and January 18th next year, as it occurs over the busy festive period. Summer signing Miguel Chaiwa is a regular for Zambia, who are in Group A, and Jordan Obita is in a similar position for Uganda in Group C. While not a constant starter, Rocky Bushiri is often called upon by Group D hopefuls DR Congo.

If called upon, it could see the trio miss key Hibs games over December and January. With signings like Zach Mitchell on loan from Charlton Athletic and the free agent swoop for Scotland international Grant Hanley, Hibs head coach Gray reckons his side will be well stocked to deal with the disruption.

David Gray on possible Hibs squad omissions

Praising the Charlton loanee and Hanley, Gray said: “I thinks it’s all part of your thinking when you sign players. When you get to Christmas time, players who are successful and qualify can be away at the tournament, so you lose members of your squad, especially in defence. Which is why it's great to have grown-up players like Grant Hanley and Zach Mitchell come in as well.

“They give you that depth as well at times when you do lose players. You know that when you sign the players that there's a potential for them to be away for a couple of weeks, three or four weeks potentially if they go really well in the competition. So the squad's ready for it, it is able.

“Clearly if you were to then pick up a few injuries in that particular area, as you talk about Jordan's area, if you ended up losing a left-sided player it probably makes you a little bit more vulnerable. But we have got a lot of dual-position players and it's not as if it's for six or eight weeks, where it could really affect the squad.

Hibs stance on boosts of international football

“Selfishly for me, 100% I would rather have them all here. But at the same time there's no better honour for them. Obviously I never got the opportunity to represent my country myself personally at the highest level, but it's the greatest achievement you can have and you would never want players not to go and experience that because that's what it's all about. You only get one career, so you want to try and maximise that the best you can and obviously wish them all the very best. “

The likes of Junior Hoilett, Martin Boyle, Jack Iredale and Jamie McGrath are all on international duty this month, and Gray says safety rather than development is the first things that comes to his mind. He added: “It's all part of the challenge that international players have got, and we have got players from all over the world, like Junior Hoilett from Canada, who could end up called up at any time for that.

“As a coach you just want them to come back safely and from that point of view it's about getting your eyes on them as quick as you can, seeing how fresh they are rather than what they've learnt when they've been away. “That's always a challenge probably as an international manager, you've got 25-30 players I'd imagine that they want to get their style in quickly, but everyone's used to playing different ways and trying to bring all that together. You've not got a lot of time to implement what you want to do, so that must be tough to deal with."