Jack Iredale admits three players regularly in the Hibs starting XI are performing well enough to keep him out of the side.
The left-back signed a two-year deal at the Easter Road side on transfer deadline day in August from Bolton Wanderers. But the Aussie hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts to life in Leith.
He’s played just 70 minutes of Premiership football across two games – both against Dundee United in the 3-2 Tannadice defeat and the 1-1 draw last Sunday.
David Gray has opted for Jordan Obita as first choice left-back in the team and it means Iredale is having to bide his time and wait for more regular opportunities.
Iredale has actually named Obita as one of Hibs’ best players so far this season, as well as central defenders Marvin Ekpiteta and Warren O’Hora.
And as long as they continue to convince Hibs boss Gray, it means Iredale will have to remain patient on the bench.
Iredale on waiting for Hibs chance
He told the Edinburgh Evening News: “Since I’ve come in, it feels like the best performers in the team have been Marvin (Ekpiteta), Warren and Jordan Obita. So I’ve got to stay patient. I’ve got to play my role and support them as best as I can and wait for my opportunity.
“When I do come on, I’ve got to help with my experience and trying to control the game as much as possible. I think I did that, and I think we did that.
“I was in the Scottish Championship a couple of years ago, so I’m used to this. It’s a physically strong game. To me, it’s more of the same. I’m just staying patient. I know what I can bring to this team.”
Hibs players ‘letting David Gray down’
As much as Iredale thinks Obita, Ekpiteta and O’Hara have been good for Hibs this season, they are all defenders at the centre of the side’s biggest problem this season – conceding late, often sloppy goals.
Hibs could currently be sat just behind Rangers in the Premiership if they managed to see out all of their games where they’ve been in winning positions.
But a potential 11 points have been thrown away by the side and more were dropped on Sunday against Dundee United with just minutes to go.
Iredale admits the team are letting David Gray down because the manager is doing all he can within his control to get results on the pitch.
Iredale said: “Football’s football. You need to fight. You need to do the dirty stuff to earn the right to be able to do the fun stuff.
“That’s where we’re letting ourselves down – and that’s where we’re letting the management team down. Because they’re setting us up so well. They’re giving us such good messages.
“It feels like countless times since I’ve come in, we’ve been in control of games. We can say that we deserve more than what we’re getting out.
“But at the same time, it’s our mistakes. That needs to change now. That can’t change down the line.
“I feel like we were turning a corner. I thought that was going to be against United. But we have another red card, a penalty. Whether it was or not, it’s happened, and we can’t change that now.”