How did the four Hibs debutants fare in 2-1 win over Kilmarnock?

Kevin Nisbet toiled with the physical presence of Stuart Findlay in the second half.

You always get debutants on the opening day of the season. We were expecting three for Hibs against Kilmarnock on Saturday, but head coach Jack Ross sprung a surprise in his starting XI and named four.

First impressions can often be deceiving. Often just seeing a fresh face can make a player look better but, nevertheless, there’s always so much intrigue as to how a Hibs player gets on in their first match in green-and-white.

Josh Doig, Alex Gogic, Drey Wright and Kevin Nisbet all started at Easter Road – and here’s the verdict on their performances.

Josh Doig

The 18-year-old got the nod at left-back over experienced club legend Lewis Stevenson. That’s a real accolade in itself considering the number of left-backs Stevenson has seen off in his Hibs career.

Doig was up against Kilmarnock’s danger man in veteran winger Chris Burke. He was skinned by the former Rangers man once in each half, but more than matched the 37-year-old for most of the match. Defensively, he was sound.

The ex-Queen’s Park loanee perhaps didn’t get forward as often as expected, but whenever he strode forward, he was assured.

Understandably, he tired a little and was replaced by Stevenson, but Jack Ross was pleased with his display. We will see more of Doig this season, that’s for sure.

Alex Gogic

Hibs fans have been desperate to see this guy. The new Marvin Bartley, they hoped, here to fill a void that gaped for most of last season. Early impressions are promising.

Gogic is a no-nonsense player. He hurtled into 50-50s and relished a battle. He hounded Kilmarnock players all over the pitch, salivating at the prospect of winning the ball and moving it on. More often than not, he was effective.

His only blot on the copybook was being dispossessed in the lead-up to the foul that brought Killie’s goal. But he more than made up for that with his general play.

Gogic was not afraid to get forward either – he headed wide in the first half – and this performance suggests he will be a fixture in the Hibs engine room.

Drey Wright

The former St Johnstone man had a steady but largely quiet debut as he filled in a few positions on the pitch.

Wright started off at right wing-back and got up to support the front-line throughout the first half. Kilmarnock generally attacked down Hibs’ left, so he wasn’t stretched defensively.

When Hibs altered their shape to a 4-3-3, he faded a little, flitting between both flanks before being replaced midway through the second half.

A decent but unspectacular start in a Hibs shirt, his versatility is sure to come in handy this season.

Kevin Nisbet

The £250,000 signing from Dunfermline took just five minutes to make a telling impact, taking the ball down, driving forward and slipping in Martin Boyle to put Hibs 1-0 up.

In truth, that’s probably as good as it got for the striker.

He pulled a presentable opportunity wide of target later in the half and despite being full of energy in the second period, he struggled to hold the ball up against the physical Kilmarnock duo of Kirk Broadfoot and Stuart Findlay.

His involvement in the first goal was a sign of what he can provide, however, and as he adjusts to Premiership football, there will surely be more to come.