Hibs star with golden touch named 'different level' after dazzling showing as three summer signings praised

Three Hibs signings have been lauded after weekend contributions - with one bringing the magic factor.

Goals from Kieron Bowie and Jamie McGrath sealed a comfortable 2-0 win over Dundee in the Premiership on Saturday. It’s a quick turnaround into Tuesday’s clash with Motherwell at Fir Park but in victory over the Dark Blues, Josh Mulligan impressed against the side he joined from in the summer, while Middlesbrough loanee Dan Barlaser was a star turn in midfield.

Former Scotland and Rangers attacker Neil McCann reckons while Mulligan and the Middlesbrough man shone, it was McGrath who was the standout of the summer signing trio. He believes he operated on a different level to help inspire victory.

Who played well for Hibs against Dundee?

McCann told Sportscene: “He's a very talented player. The way Hibs play, they're very set in terms of what they want to do with the three centre-backs. They've got two powerhouses. Barlaser, really intelligent on the ball, sits behind the ball. We've got Mulligan, who's really strong, enters the box good, all about his power and his box-to-box.

“McGrath's just that wee bit of gold, a wee bit of kind of magic dust that plays in the hole, just in front of those two guys off the front, and he's got such good imagination. He's got great technique.

“I have to say, that's not his best strike in the world, but it's accurate. All game for me, he just had that wee bit of x-factor running about the front areas. When you've got a pace like Martin Boyle, you can see a pass for him sliding down the sides. He can work his way out. Al day long, his imagination was just on a different level.”

Kieron Bowie at Hibs assessed

McCann also backed goal-getter Bowie to bounce back from Scotland exclusion after his weekend performance. He added: “You can see that he's probably lacking a bit of confidence. Dropping out the Scotland squads maybe hasn't been easy for him as well but David Gray has stuck with him. I think Hibs were brilliant, 32 crosses or so put into Dundee's penalty area.

“Not all good ones, but they were asking questions. With Kieran Bowie, he's always going to be in and around the right area. He kept getting at it. He probably scores the hardest. His first touch, it's excellent, and he's moving towards the ball, he's just dipped behind Graham, and then he's just going forward on his touch. In one motion, it's just about getting good contact, making sure it's on target, and puts it past John McCracken.

“I think he's always going to probably have down patches, and then purple patches. He's a young guy, he's come in, I think he's blown onto the scene for Hibs. He's still a bit raw, you can see that in his all round game, but as you saw with that goal and that finish, he has got a really good finish in him, instinctive, and maybe that'll kick him on now.”