Seven games into the Scottish Premiership campaign and with their Premier Sports Cup adventure cut short at the first knock-out stage, Hibs haven’t exactly leapt into a different tax bracket with the quality of their performances this season. In terms of pure results, David Gray’s men bear a striking resemblance to some of the teams put together by his predecessors. At least at the moment.
But a summer of change – revolution, really – at East Mains has dramatically transformed the talent available to Gray, whose appointment during the close season prompted a flurry of transfer market activity. With new sporting director Malky Mackay also diving straight into the gig, Hibs made 12 signings for the first-team squad.
Starting with a new No. 1 and ending with the arrival of a free agent striker after the deadline had passed, Gray and Mackay have effectively overhauled the entire squad. There were SEVEN new signings in the starting XI against Motherwell at the weekend.
Allowing for the fact that some of these guys are still a) getting to grips with the madcap pace of Scottish football and b) learning the strengths, weaknesses, foibles and quirks of their new team-mates in a different system, most have shown some sort of potential for the season ahead. And one veteran attacker really stands out. It should go without saying that a fair few must do better, if Hibs are to climb the table.
So let’s take a look at the decent dozen senior pros brought into help Hibs turn things around, applying the traditional, inexact, entirely unscientific X-out-of-10 rating system to grade their impact to date:
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9. W/10 Junior Hoilett 7/10
The stand-out so far. Despite taking a long time to get fit following his summer arrival as a free agent on a one-year deal, the 34-year-old former Blackburn, Cardiff, QPR, Reading, Vancouver and Aberdeen (among others) player has shown genuine class in two starts and one appearance from the bench. His goal against Motherwell at the weekend hinted at great things to come. | SNS Group
10. CF Mykola Kuharevich 6/10
Back at Hibs for a second loan spell, the Swansea centre forward has scored twice in seven starts, finding the net against Celtic and St Johnstone. Looks like a more than useful target at the top end of the park. Not getting a huge number of chances at the moment. | SNS Group
11. CF Dwight Gayle ??
Far too early to tell. Veteran striker, signed as a free agent AFTER the transfer deadline, hasn’t started a competitive game in six months. Two substitute appearances to date have given us some glimpse into the quality of a forward whose career includes scoring goals for Newcastle, Crystal Palace, West Brom et al. Knows he should have scored at Ibrox. | SNS Group
12. CF/W Kieron Bowie 6.5/10
Scotland Under-21 striker, a £600,000 summer signing from Fulham, was going to be The One. And then his hamstring went pop on international duty. Yet to start a game for Hibs but has looked incredibly exciting in his appearances from the bench. The former Raith star will become even better, in the eyes of supporters, as he spends the next four months working his way back to fitness. Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group