Hibernian

David Gray makes two changes as he attempts to reverse last week's league defeat by Celtic in the League Cup last-16 tie.

Dylan Levitt and Rudi Molotnikov make way from midfield, and Rocky Bushiri bolsters the defence to make it a back three.

Nathan Moriah-Welsh is added to the middle of the park as Hibs aim to get more legs in the team.

New signing Hyeok-kyu Kwon can't play against his parent club.

Hibernian XI v Celtic: Bursik, Miller, Bushiri, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita, Newell, Moriah-Welsh, Campbell, Boyle, Kuharevich.

Substitutes: Smith, Levitt, C Cadden, Amos, McKirdy, N Cadden, Bowie, Megwa, Molotnikov.

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Hibs head coach David Gray insisted his side will learn from last week's 2-0 loss to Celtic as they prepare to take on the reigning league champions again in the Premier Sports Cup.

First-half goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Callum McGregor were enough to beat Hibs at Easter Road, with the sides meeting at Parkhead on Sunday.

"Sometimes you can go 10 or 12 weeks without playing them again, so one of the positives to come from this is that we know exactly what to expect," Gray said.

"We can learn from the things that we can be better at, we have talked about the areas we need to improve on and all those feelings will be fresh in the mind for this weekend."

The new head coach was also adamant that the Premier Sports Cup is a winnable competition for Hibs.

Gray captained the Leith side in the 2016 League Cup final loss to Ross County, and famously scored the winner in the Scottish Cup final two months later.

"I have been strong with the players from the very start, when you join this football club, there is an expectation and demand to go and win a trophy – that has to be the ultimate aim," Gray added.

"There is a genuine opportunity to do it at this club, but to do that you need to beat the best and that is what we need to try to do this Sunday.

"In a one-off game, with the magic of the cup, there is no reason why we can’t go there and win. But we need to make sure we massively improve on where we were last weekend."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Premier Sports Cup last 16 weekend concludes by handing Hibernian the chance of quickfire revenge over Celtic.

That is easier said than done considering Sunday's 2-0 league defeat was on their own patch and this time they have to visit the home of Scottish champions who have scored six and are yet to concede in their two games so far this season.

David Gray's side found the net 14 times in three group-stage outings, but defeat by League 1 side Kelty Hearts and two Premiership losses without scoring have heaped early pressure on the man confirmed as head coach after his spell as caretaker last season.

While Hibs will be unable to field latest midfield loan recruit Kwon Hyeok-kyu against his parent club and have fewer forward options after Dylan Vente joined Zwolle on loan, Celtic's firepower is boosted by the return of Adam Idah.

Now he has made the switch from Norwich City permanent, the Republic of Ireland striker will be looking to continue the scoring rate that bagged him nine goals, including a double against Hibs, in 19 games on loan.

With him in tow, Brendan Rodgers' hosts will be even stronger favourites to continue their 18-game unbeaten run - and four straight wins - over Hibs at home and take their place in the quarter-final draw shortly after full-time.

Read the Premier Sports Cup preview in full here.

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New Hibs forward Kieron Bowie says his time spent with Fulham has made him a better player, even though he didn't break into the first team.

The 21-year-old joined the London club from hometown team Raith Rovers four years ago and featured at Under-18 and Under-21 level but failed to make a first-team appearance.

Having signed a four-year deal at Easter Road, Bowie thinks he's now ready for the Scottish top flight.

"I had never left home, I’d been in Kirkcaldy my whole life so it was a big change to go down to London, one of the busiest places in the world," he said.

"It was surreal going down there without any family. It was definitely a good move for me even though I didn’t break into the team.

"I went down from Raith and it was a very different environment. It was a lot more technical than I was used to so I definitely developed a lot there technically, with my touch and things like that.

"They were really focused on that aspect. When I was up here before, playing in Scottish League One, I was on the right wing and I was just a young lad, a lot smaller than I am now.

"Coming back up now, I’m bigger and I’ve got a lot more of a presence.

"I think that’s why Hibs have brought me in, because they know I can be that focal point up front or I can play off either side because I’ve got that versatility."

Hibernian have made a third bid of £750,000 for Dundee captain Luke McCowan, with Celtic closely monitoring the situation but yet to make an official approach for the 26-year-old midfielder valued at around £1m by his club. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Hibernian head coach David Gray will look to sign another striker after Dylan Vente headed back to the Netherlands to join Zwolle on loan. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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The draw for the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup will take place on Sunday after the Celtic v Hibs tie, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

The draw will be shown live on Premier Sports following their coverage of the game from Parkhead.

All quarter-final ties due to be played on the weekend of September 21-22.

Hibernian forward Dylan Vente has arrived in the Netherlands before his loan move to Zwolle, with the paperwork on the 25-year-old's move poised to be completed. (Sky Sports)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

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David Gray has confirmed Hibs have received interest in Dylan Vente, but says it's "too early" to say if the Dutch striker will leave.

Vente, who joined the Edinburgh club from Roda JC on a three-year deal last summer, has reportedly travelled to his homeland for talks with Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle.

"Yeah, there has been a little bit of interest there, but at the moment he’s still very much a Hibs player," head coach Gray said.

"It’s too early say just now if he will move on. At the moment, whilst he’s still a Hibs player, I’m just concentrating on how I can get the best out of him.

"That’s something I’ll continue doing unless that situation changes."

Gray was delighted to add South Korean midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu on a season-long loan from Celtic this week.

"We've seen straight away, the last two days on the grass, the quality and technical ability he has, but also his physicality," he said.

"He's a real good athlete who covers the ground well. He was somebody I was really impressed with when he went on loan to St Mirren last season."

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Hibs head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Celtic in the League Cup this weekend.

Here are the main points from the press conference:

• On the loan signing of Celtic's Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Gray notes how impressive he was at St Mirren last season and that he "got a lot of good references" for the midfielder.

• On a poor start to the season, the boss says the players are getting stronger every day and there is still responsibility and an emphasis on making sure they improve.

• Gray insists Dylan Vente still a Hibs player despite the striker having reportedly travelled to the Netherlands to complete a move to PEC Zwolle.

• On Elie Youan's future, Gray says speculation has been there for a "long time" but right now his full focus is on getting back fit. The French forward is back training on the grass and the club are happy with his progress.

• New signing Junior Hoilett is still not ready to feature but is also improving day by day and is back on the grass.

• Gray says Hibs can benefit from playing Celtic twice in a row as the disappointment of last week's defeat is fresh in the players' minds. They know exactly what they're facing but admits that doesn't make the test any easier.

• On his aims for the season as a whole, he stresses the need to improve on last term and "be miles better".

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Everyone at Hibs will be disappointed with the club's start to the new Premiership season. Two defeats from two, five goals conceded, zero scored.

But patience and a sense of realism is also required as this season in particular there is likely to be a major overhaul of players.

With a bloated squad inherited from the last managerial team, David Gray has a very difficult job of keeping players happy when he and they know they are likely to move on.

He is also tasked with integrating freshness into a squad that is currently low in confidence.

Things don't get any easier for Gray as this weekend it's a trip to Glasgow to face in-form Celtic in the League Cup last 16.

At Easter Road last Sunday the game was won in the opening 20 minutes and if anything was learned from that defeat its surely not to gift anything to Brendan Rodgers' side as they have a ruthless streak about them just now.

The squad Gray is assembling will take time to gel and it will be up to key players like Joe Newell and new centre-back Warren O’Hora to try and bring stability on the pitch.

Hibernian forward Dylan Vente is expected to join Dutch side PEC Zwolle. (Soccernews, in Dutch), external

Chris Cadden believes Hibs will improve as new signings get integrated into the team. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Warren O'Hora admits he and his fellow new Hibernian recruits will need to adapt to the Scottish game quickly after an "eye-opening" encounter with Celtic on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers champions had 19 shots on target in their 2-0 win at Easter Road, and the sides will meet again this weekend in the Premier Sports Cup.

The defender hopes to cope with the "speed and physicality" of the game better at Celtic Park.

“That’s why I’ve come to this club and that’s why I’ve come to this league," the former MK-Dons centre-half said. "I want to play the best in this league, I want to play the best in this country, and I want this club to be up there with teams like that and that’s what we’re excelling to be.

“Yeah, look, it’s an eye opener, but I felt like we did well enough in the second half to maybe nick a goal and maybe nick something out of the game.

“The speed, the physicality is definitely different and something that we have to get up to, and me personally, I have to get up to.

“It’s a process. It’s all new. We are a new enough squad, we have brought in some boys.

“The gaffer has been brilliant with me personally, he’s been brilliant with all the new boys, no doubt about it, and in training he’s working hard with us."

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Games against Celtic seem to get more difficult with each passing season.

It’s not hard to see why with the financial gulf between Celtic and every other team in the league is widening year on year, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that Celtic eased to victory at Easter Road on Sunday.

We didn’t make life easy for ourselves though, conceding a goal within three minutes from a simple ball over the top which let Kyogo run through, and although his shot was well saved by Bursik in the Hibs goal, Lewis Miller failed to match James Forrest’s determination to get to the rebound, and he squared it to Nicolas Kuhn, who himself showed more desire to reach the ball than the pursuing Jordan Obita to open the scoring.

As if one shot to the foot wasn’t enough, Hibs completed the job when Marvin Ekpiteta’s sloppy pass back to Bursik saw the 'keeper give away possession, and with four Hibs players drawn to the ball, Callum McGregor had all the time in the world to fire a shot beyond Bursik to double Celtic’s lead.

At this point it looked like a hammering was on the cards, and we were glad to get to half-time with the scoreline still respectable. We improved in the second half, with Keiron Bowie striking the crossbar on his debut. The new signing looked very promising from the cameo appearance, and David Gray will be hoping to have him at full fitness as soon as possible.

For Hibs, the same problematic midfield that dogged us last season was found wanting again on Sunday. This is an area that needs urgent attention from Malky Mackay if he’s to give Gray any chance of success this season.

Matty Fairnie can be found on the Longbangers podcast, external

Warren O’Hora says Sunday's 2-0 home defeat by Celtic was an "eye opener" as he lamented Hibs' start to the game. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Warren O'Hora says Hibs can build on their second-half showing against Celtic, with the Irish defender targeting European football next season.

Hibs were beaten 2-0 by Brendan Rodgers' side at Easter Road on Sunday and were booed off after a woeful opening 45 minutes, but improved somewhat after the break.

Despite that, David Gray's side have lost their opening two Premiership fixtures and things don't get any easier next weekend, as they face Celtic again, this time in the League Cup.

"I thought we were much better in the second half," he said. "In terms of an experience, that's the level we need to get to. The second half was definitely something that we can take positives from.

"I don’t think it's any secret in the dressing room we want to be right up that table and fighting for the European spots and go well in the cup and that starts next week.

"We need to dust ourselves off and get in again and start working towards Sunday.

"We want to win football games and be right up there and the fans expect that as well. It’s such a big club and it’s a club that should be up there.

"That’s the expectation. That’s why myself and other boys have come here. We want to feel that pressure and fight for those places. That’s one of the reasons I came here to feel that pressure and give the fans what they want and we will be working towards that."

Hibs fans, we asked for your views on Sunday's defeat to Celtic.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Danny: Let's be frank, a few Hibs fans would truly have expected a win against a very good Celtic side. But to go down in this manner, with no spark and no fight, is deeply concerning. David Gray was never the man for the job. He won't survive many more performances like that, which will be a sad end to a legend's association with the club.

Dougie: Surely Gray knows what Celtic are about? The first half was comical, some flashes in the second half after Chris Cadden and Kieron Bowie came on. I think Bowie will be a huge player for us but we were lucky to get away with 0-2. We need to drop Josh Campbell and Dylan Levitt, who were chasing shadows all game. Joe Newell is a good player but I think the captaincy is a step too far for him.

Scott: A better second half but probably because Celtic took their foot off the gas. Hibs' midfield were awful and simply could not compete. Poor past recruitment has hampered the squad and quality additions are desperately required over and above the new signings.

Bea: For me it’s the midfield that needs reinforcements now, there is a lack of creativity and strength there which is causing us problems defensively and not contributing nearly enough going forward. Bowie looks like he could be a player for us though.

David: At the moment Hibs are a Championship-quality team in the Premiership. We haven’t addressed the major problems with quality players and it is showing. Jury still out on Gray as he and his staff are the ones that take training and pick the team.

Finn: Signings need to come into the club ASAP. We also need to drop Martin Boyle, Campbell and Levitt if we want to get anything out of Sunday's game as they were all not good enough today.

Craig: Never expect much from these games but you hope the players at least run their guts out. First half was horrid stuff. Very lucky to only be two down. The second half was a slight improvement, the subs made a difference and Bowie was very unlucky with his effort. Once the new players have settled in, I think performances will be better. Persevere, it's what we do.

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Former Hibs midfielder Marvin Bartley has called for David Gray to be given time to settle into his role as Hibs manager after a dreadful start to the league season.

Bartley played alongside Gray during their time at Easter Road and believes he has what it takes to be successful despite two losses against St Mirren and Celtic.

"There's a lot of players that have been brought into the building and he needs them all to gel," Bartley told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But they've got Celtic away again next Sunday and that's a massive, massive game for them because what they need is a repeat of the second half.

"If Celtic play the way they did in the first half and Hibs do the same, I don't think they'll be as lucky as to get in at half-time with just a two-goal deficit.

"David will be feeling the pressure every single day in management. You can win five games and then lose one and all of sudden somebody's got something to say.

"So it's part and parcel of it and it's something that over time you will learn from."

Watch highlights as Hibs host Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

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