Hibs have 14 players out on loan currently.
The Easter Road club have carried a bloated squad for a number of years now and have tried to get rid of some the spare parts but could only find loans for some of them, while some of the others who headed out are youngsters gaining experience.
The first-team squad men who left the Hibees temporarily were Jair Tavares to Motherwell, Kanayo Megwa to Partick Thistle, Allan Delferriere to Racing Union Lëtzebuerg in Luxembourg and Dylan Vente to PEC Zwolle in his homeland of the Netherlands.
All had been involved to varying degrees under previous bosses Nick Montgomery and Lee Johnson but supporters were frustrated with the use of Dylan Vente.
The Dutch striker was bought for around £700k (Daily Record) and was expected to bring a return on that investment with goals after having a good record in the Dutch second tier.
But he failed to hit the heights expected and began to be used in a more deeper role later last season under Montgomery.
Dylan Vente’s Hibs future
Vente hit a hat-trick in the first League Cup group stage match against Elgin City and fans hoped he could go on to have a better season.
But it was decided it was best for him to go out on loan, heading back to the Netherlands with PEC Zwolle.
He found the net in three consecutive Eredivisie games earlier in the season but now hasn’t scored in his last eight.
But Gray insists the door is not closed on a Hibs future for Vente, who is contracted until 2026.
He said: “I think you’ve always got a future. You never know, I’d never ever close the door on anybody, absolutely not.
“He’s still a contracted player, he’s still a very good player, you can clearly see that, he’s a goal scorer.
“But that would just be something that we address when it can actually be changed, or looked at, because at this moment in time, obviously the window’s closed.
“I think it’s great that he’s gone out on loan and is playing and scoring goals. I think that’s important for any striker, to want to be able to do that.
“When you look at the group, you look at Kieran Bowie coming in – the decisions you make at the time, you do it for what you believe is the right decision at the time. And by the time January comes, Kieran will be getting close to coming back.
“When Dylan’s out on loan at the moment, nothing can change between now and Christmas. All he can do is keeps working as hard as he can, keeps trying to play games as he can and score as many goals as he can, because the more he does that, the better position he’ll be in.”
Hibs attacking options
While allowing Vente to go out and get regular games, Hibs brought in Dwight Gayle, Kieron Bowie and Mykola Kuharevich for more firepower.
Bowie unfortunately picked up a serious injury early in his Easter Road career but is expected back around January time which could impact on any decision to recall Vente.
Gayle and Kuharevich have mostly shared the centre-forward role while Elie Youan has also been used although he is more naturally a wide player.
Gayle has one goal and Kuharevich three so they’re not exactly setting the heather alight – however Vente isn’t doing much to suggest he could be the answer either.