The six Hibs out-of-contract players - who will stay and who will go?

Joe Newell has been a stand-out in Hibs' midfield.

Sporting director Graeme Mathie and head coach Jack Ross are no strangers to dealing with renewals. However, in the turbulent climate of a global pandemic, where revenue streams don’t flow as freely as they once did, it is harder to make firm commitments.

In normal times, Hibs could pretty much bank on at least 9,000 season-ticket sales and work a budget from there. With the uncertainty about when supporters can return to stadia, that financial bedrock isn’t there.

Qualification for Europe, and in particular the Europa League play-off round, has the potential to be a serious game-changer, though. And if that doesn’t come to pass, we know from last month that Hibs have sellable assets in Ryan Porteous and Kevin Nisbet. Raising funds to retain key men can be done if necessary.

Ofir Marciano is a safe pair of hands for Hibs.

There are six first-team players whose contracts expire in the summer. Three of them are goalkeepers, and two are probably the club’s best midfielders. We take a look at each one …

Ofir Marciano

Come the summer, Marciano will have been at Hibs for five years. The Israel internationalist has become a firm favourite at Easter Road and, despite a couple of dips in form and injuries, is the undisputed No.1 at the club. One of the best shot-stoppers Hibs have had in recent times, Marciano has also improved his decision-making at crosses and his distribution, something that caused one of his previous bosses, Paul Heckingbottom, a great deal of dissatisfaction.

At 31-years-old, Marciano is at a pivotal moment in his career. This is likely to be his last big contract offer and, as an established international goalkeeper, ought to command a competitive wage. Celtic have been loosely linked with him given their own goalkeeping travails – after all, current Celtic boss Neil Lennon brought him to Hibs. Marciano spoke last week of “knowing his value” while also keeping an open mind on staying at Easter Road.

Jackson Irvine has played six times for Hibs since signing last month.

He and his wife Shelly and son Sun are settled in Edinburgh and the couple are expecting another child this year. Being content in your surroundings may also play a big factor in whether Marciano wants to stay. Uprooting a young family might not seem attractive to him.

For Hibs, they have to weigh up their value of Marciano. He will not come cheap. Furthermore, he does miss matches due to injury – more than the average goalkeeper – and that could come into calculations. However, they have a high-end operator at Scottish football level. Having a settled goalkeeper can make all the difference.

Matt Macey

Macey arrived on a six-month contract from Arsenal last month as Marciano’s back-up. The towering 26-year-old has done nothing wrong in the two games he has played, but ultimately the jury is out on whether he can (a) be a better alternative to Marciano and (b) whether Hibs see him as a long-term option. For a 26-year-old, he does not have a huge amount of first-team experience. If the Englishman does fancy a longer stint in Edinburgh, he will hope to get another chance to prove his worth.

Kevin Dabrowski

Speak to people involved at Dumbarton, where Dabrowski was on loan until the turn of the year, and they will wax lyrical about the 22-year-old Pole. Read the same for Cowdenbeath, where he spent time last season. He has made an impression.

Dabrowski is at a crossroads in his career, though. He’s yet to play competitively for Hibs and, at his age, he needs to play regularly in at least the Championship to further develop. Hibs making him No.1 next season would be a huge gamble, regardless of his ability. Experience is so important in a goalkeeper.

One would expect Dabrowski to be a cheap, risk-free renewal for Hibs. They have nurtured him for four years since he arrived as a kid from Lech Poznan.

Kevin Dabrowski impressed when on loan at Dumbarton.

Stephen McGinn

Brought in as cover in a playing and coaching capacity last summer, former St Mirren captain Stephen McGinn has been a value-for-money member of the squad. A good friend of Ross, Hibs may want to keep him on in both capacities. The 32-year-old’s wage is at the lower end of the scale and he would not be difficult to deal with. A model pro, his influence on younger players could prove invaluable.

Joe Newell

The 27-year-old has been Hibs’ classiest midfielder this season and, as a result, clamour has grown for the ex-Rotherham man to be tied down on a longer-term contract. Injured for the past few weeks, his range of passing, coolness and vision has been missed, plus he is a real threat from set pieces.

Newell enjoys life in Edinburgh and is a popular member of the squad. His value will have increased this term and English clubs have noted his performances this season. However, Ross has made him one of the key members of his squad and would no doubt be keen to tie him down more permanently.

Jackson Irvine

Stephen McGinn adds experience to Hibs' squad.

The Australian internationalist signed a deal until the summer last month and on the evidence of his first six games for the club, Hibs will want to keep him for much longer.

Athletic, intelligent, creative and combative, Irvine can fulfil a variety of roles in midfield. Despite a lack of games following his departure from Hull, Irvine does not look off-the-pace at all.

His pedigree suggests that other teams will be watching his form with interest and there is little doubt that, assuming Irvine maintains his fitness, Hibs will try to do business with him.

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