David Gray is confident Hibs WILL do business before the end of the transfer window. The Easter Road boss says he, new head of recruitment Garvan Stewart and sporting director Malky Mackay are working overtime to identify and move in on targets in key areas.
But Gray also insists the return of summer marquee signing Kieron Bowie already feels like a new addition after the striker made his comeback from a near five-month injury lay-off against Clydebank in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
Hibs have yet to make any additions this month but have began to reduce their squad size with Jake Doyle-Hayes being freed, Nohan Kenneh joining Ross County on loan and Josh O’Connor signing for Northern Irish outfit Crusaders.
And Gray said: “The challenge is always to try and end the window in a more positive place than when you started, the work’s never ending. We’re trying to look at targets all the time and try and strengthen in areas which if we think something can be done that’ll make us better, we’re looking to do that. While the window is open you need to be proactive.
“I think there will be movement before the window closes. The closer you get to the end of the window you do things happening a lot more and quicker.”
Stewart joined Hibs from Bournemouth late last year and, alongside Mackay, is spearheading the recruitment drive which is already targeting the summer window as well as looking to strengthen in this window. Gray said: “The knowledge and experience Garvan has got and the network he has too from working for so long down south is great.
“Straight away you see the targets he’s identifying and the work that’s going on all the time. Naturally now everyone is talking about it because the window is open but the work never stopped.
“We are always preparing for the next window and how the squad looks. There’s already discussions about the end of the season and what that looks like because we are in a bit of a real transitional season not just because it’s my first job in the role but because of the number of players that are out of contract at the end of the season.
“The key is making sure we are working really close every day. They will be doing the work every day and I will be dipping in and out and making sure we are all on the same page.
“At times there will be players I know myself and have identified, other times it might be that we are looking for a position we want to improve or replace and they will go and draw up the list from a data point of view.
“We have the knowledge and experience of Malky overseeing that and together we come up with a list of targets we believe can make us better in those positions.
“Then collectively we decide who is the best one and I will have the say at the very end to say here’s the 1,2,3,4 targets for position X.
“We don’t always get number one, that’s the ideal scenario, but there’s always a lot of interest from other clubs and then you have to take into account the financial side that can it be done, what that looks like and does it benefit the football club.
“You want to get as many new recruits right because you are judged on that.”
On top of Bowie’s return, Gray is also expecting to have skipper Joe Newell back from a hernia issue in the coming weeks while Mike Kuharevich is also back from a groin injury. Meanwhile Elie Youan is close to shaking off a foot injury.
Gray told Premier Sports’ Social Club podcast: “We’ve also got the luxury of, or the benefit of, players coming back from long-term injuries.
“Kieran Bowie managed to get minutes at the weekend, which is a huge plus. He’s been out for a number of months, which is a blow for him. Players like him coming back will feel like new signings.
“We’ve also got Joe Newell, who’s been out at the moment. Myko’s been out for a while. Elie Youan, add to that list as well. And the only one that’s probably going to be slightly longer is Marvin Ekpiteta. These are all key members of our squad.
“So to have them back, hopefully in a few weeks rather than anything else, will be a real boost for us as well. If we can add to that then hopefully we end the window in a stronger position than we started it.”