Rival boss names key Hibs strengths as 'direct' strength spotted amid congested analysis sessions
Motherwell are the first Premiership test for Hibs this season.
Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson has named what he expects to face when bringing his side into battle against Hibs.
The pair collide at Easter Road with both sides in the midst of Conference League campaigns, third round qualifiers awaiting next Thursday, after this battle in Leith. Johansson’s work on Hibs included analysis amid plotting their 5-0 aggregate win over HB Torshavn of the Faroe islands in qualifying round two. Counterpart David Gray has North Macedonia’s KF Shkendija on the horizon, and Johansson will tango against Finland’s HJK Helsinki after their Premiership opener, and analysis will prove key to success.
He said: “You have to prioritise your time. You balance between analysing your own team to develop team performance which is the main thing and you balance that with observing opponents. My analyst has prepared me really well for both HB games and the Hibs games.
How are Motherwell preparing for Hibs?
“I have been watching them the last couple of days, yes. We then finalise how we want to approach the game and then train it. In this congested fixture list, everyone has to focus on the game, but as coaches and analysts, we need to be a week-and-a-half ahead of everyone else.”
Johansson has not had injury issues to seek either and has confirmed neither right-back Johnny Koutroumbis or striker Eythor Bjorgolfsson will be fit for possibly a couple of weeks yet. Providing an injury update and what he expects from Hibs, the Motherwell boss added: “Johnny is still a week or two away, but the good thing with the bad injury he had is that when we scan it again and it’s healed, then it’s play.
“He’s not very far away. We spoke about Eythor the other day and he will be out for a couple weeks. Hibs is a really good team and they have showed that. We know they are strong in their direct play, with crosses, and presence in the box. There are chances against them so we will try our best.”
Meanwhile, Johannsson is convinced he can bring the best out of Alex Lowry after the former Rangers star’s return to Scotland. The playmaker has signed a season-long loan deal from English League One side Wycombe Wanderers and could be involved during Sunday’s Premiership opener against Hibs.
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Lowry made 14 appearances at senior level for Rangers after emerging as a major talent out the Ibrox academy but could not hold down a regular position. His career has stalled of late, and now 23, the new Fir Park boss is convinced there are recent tales Lowry can take inspiration from in terms of getting back on track.
Johansson said: “We believe we can bring the best out of Alex. That is why we have brought him. Alex can also bring the best out himself in this environment. He is a big talent that has a lot of quality offensively on the half-turn to make the last pass, one v one and finishing. There is a lot of potential in the kid. Personally, I was very intrigued by his personality when we did the meetings.
“Since I have met him it only confirmed my thoughts because he is a lovely boy. He is a coachable player. In the last couple of days he has made such a good impression of himself on all the staff and his teammates. I am pretty sure if you go back 12 months you could say the same about Tawanda Maswanhise, Elliot Watt, Elijah Just and so on.
“Their careers were drifting and they hadn’t been at they best and that is what we put a lot of pride it at Motherwell. We have an environment where we can feel safe, work really hard and develop. We want that other be our edge and it seems to be for the last 12 months. We want to continue. Alex has all the chances in the world to do well and to help the club.”