David Gray details Hibs’ attacking ‘options and variations’ as he defends minimal transfer activity

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There seems to have been an ever so slight frustration among Hibs fans after they only made one January transfer signing.

The Hibees are flying right now and are unbeaten in nine Premiership games, ten in all competitions, so clearly their fans aren’t going to launch a mutiny.

But the nature of football fans is that they always want the excitement of transfers and new players coming in to improve their team.

Hibs fans thought they may see a “flurry” of deadline day activity, especially with Elie Youan potentially joining Stoke in a £1.5million deal, but neither of those things happened.

That leaves Alasana Manneh as the only Hibees recruit, and while he has pedigree, fans thought they might have got more.

But manager David Gray is comfortable with what he has and made it clear he would only add new signings if they were of significant quality.

Pundit Michael Stewart reckons Hibs still have ‘real issues’ within their squad but Gray doesn’t see it that way.

• READ MORE: Hibs booted out six-figure deadline day transfer bid for out of contract star

Gray pleased with Hibs attacking options

One area Hibs could have strengthened is up front with loanee Mykola Kuharevich not hitting the heights hoped, and Dwight Gayle showing quality but aged 35.

But summer signing Kieron Bowie is back from injury and being eased back in with appearances off the bench.

And Gray insists he has “lots of options and variations.”

He told the Edinburgh Evening News: ““I think we’ve got a real good balance of what we’ve got up there at the moment, when you look at the players we’ve got. In terms of pace, you’ve got the likes of Boyle and Elie, and then the more physical ones, obviously Kieran Bowie and Myko.

“Plus we have the experience of Junior (Hoilett) and Dwight. So we’ve got a nice blend up there of options that we can use – and then you’ve got the energy in behind it with Josh Campbell and Rudi Molotnikov playing in that attacking midfield role at the moment.

“When you start to look at all the players coming together, lots of options, lots of variations that can all play differently.

“There’s been times, obviously, where we’ve played Elie and Boyle together, and went with two players with real pace.

“But the likes of Bowie coming back, Myko coming back, definitely gives us another dimension.

“Which is why, when you look at the business we’ve done at the start of the season, where we are in the position we’re in now, why I’m obviously happy with the options that we’ve got.”

Elie Youan Hibs latest

Youan stayed put despite all of the interest in him but has also missed Hibs’ last few games with injury. Gray hopes to have him available soon.

He added: “By the end of the week we’ll have a better idea of where he’s at; it’s still not ideal. He went for that injection, but hopefully by the end of the week we’ll have a bit more of a clearer idea as to how long it’s going to be, but it’s still niggling a little bit.

“That’s the five days now, which is how long it should take for the injection to work. I’ll have a better idea by Thursday, pretty much to see exactly where he’s at, because he’s not back training yet because of that, which is obviously a variable.”