Hibernian

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Nicky Cadden is making up for lost time with his eye-catching form in Hibs' resurgence, says head coach David Gray.

The 28-year-old was named Premiership Player of the Month for December after helping Hibs go from bottom spot to just a point outside the top six prior to Saturday's visit from Motherwell.

After starting just twice up to late November, Cadden has been an ever-present at left wing-back in the past 10 games.

"Fully deserved," Gray said of Cadden's award. "I think his numbers back that up. He had a bit of a slow start because he joined us later and never really had a pre-season.

"When we first signed him, he had been unattached from the end of last season, so we had to be careful with him at the start and build up his minutes in a controlled way.

"He picked up a couple of injuries, which was a bit of a blow because he was just starting to hit that level but you can clearly see since he's come back into the team that he worked really hard during his rehab, and he's taken his opportunity.

"You can see how he's affecting games of football in a real positive way, which is great."

Gray is keen to continue Hibs momentum this weekend adding: "When you think back to how the season has gone up to this point, there was real adversity at the start. We had to stick together and keep working hard but there was still that belief.

"We're demonstrating now that if we can put it all together we're a really good side. There's a lot of football still to be played before the split and our challenge is to make sure we're in the top six and keep looking up the way."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibs boss David Gray has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Motherwell this weekend.

Here are the main points:

• Gray is delighted Nicky Cadden won Premiership player of the month for December, saying it was "fully deserved" and "he's still got a ceiling, he can go higher".

• On Rocky Bushiri, whose deal expires this summer, Gray says the defender is a "great example" of putting in "the best level of performance" regardless of when you're contract ends.

• The head coach is "sure" there will be movement at Easter Road during the transfer window but stresses they'll be in a better position with players returning from injury as January progresses.

• But Gray says: "If someone with that X factor comes along and the club wants to support us on that would be great."

• Elie Youan is days away from a return, despite a setback. Kieron Bowie and Mykola Kukharevych are both back in full training but won't be available for the weekend. Joe Newell is still a few weeks away, as is Marvin Ekpiteta who is unlikely to be back before the end of the month.

• The Hibs boss is pleased with how his side overcame "real adversity" at the start of the season and are fully focused on the top-six spots, adding "everything we set out at the start of the season is still achievable".

• On the challenge of Motherwell, Gray his side are "in a different place" compared to the first meeting this season but knows the Steelmen "are above us in the league for a reason".

Martin Boyle rolled back the years in Hibernian's thrilling 3-3 draw with Rangers last weekend.

Thriving in the fun, the winger ran riot with his pace and directness, causing trouble for the Ibrox club's backline.

His double against Philippe Clement's side took his tally to five for the season and, with three assists to his name too, he's already been involved in as many goals this term as he was last.

He's been central to Hibs' six-game unbeaten run and has captained the side in their past two.

Victory at home against a Motherwell side who have won just one of their past six away league outings (D1 L4), could take the Easter Road club into the top six, signalling a sensational turnaround from a turbulent start.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian have 12 players out on loan and are highly likely to be active in the current transfer window with a number of players potentially moving out permanently and others coming.

Although Jordan Smith has performed well since coming into the team, a goalkeeper remains one of the priority areas David Gray wants to strengthen this month.

And with a number of players, including Martin Boyle, out of contract in the summer the board may have a decision to make over offering new deals or cashing in on assets while they still have value.

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Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell believes Hibs are now reaping the rewards of showing "faith and trust" in novice manager David Gray after a tumultuous start to the season.

Kettlewell takes his side to Easter Road on Saturday looking to end Hibs' six-game unbeaten run that has lifted them from bottom of the table to seventh spot and kept Gray in a job.

"That's what I absolutely believe in. I think you need a trust, I think you need a backing," said Kettlewell.

"Sometimes you need people to shut out noise that's out there because I always talk about how knee jerk this is, this whole thing that people want to create stories and write you off before you even get a chance to do a job.

"Certain things in football just don't happen overnight, and sometimes you do well and then you take two or three steps backwards, that's how that goes.

"I experienced a similar thing myself last season and had a group of people here at the football club that backed me to the hilt.

"But sometimes you need that faith and that trust in people - you can't just can't keep changing things all the time and expect to get a better version.

"I think David has certainly shown that, this recent run is something that they've been working towards."

• Hibs forward Martin Boyle has both scored (5) and been directly involved in (8 – 5 goals, 3 assists) as many Scottish Premiership goals this season as he was in the whole of last term. Only in 2020-21 (12) and 2021-22 (7) has he ever netted more in a single season in the competition.

• Hibs are unbeaten in their last six Scottish Premiership games (W4 D2), last going seven without defeat in the competition in March 2023.

• Motherwell have won just one of their past six away league outings (D1 L4), failing to score in three in a row. Not since February 2011 have the Steelmen gone longer without scoring in the top flight away from home (5 games).

• Hibs have won two of their past three league meetings with Motherwell (L1), as many as their previous eight beforehand (W2 D4 L2).

• After their 2-1 win in October, Motherwell are looking to earn back-to-back top-flight away wins over Hibs for the first time since August 2013.

Hibernian forward Kieron Bowie, 22, has taken a significant step towards a comeback from his hamstring injury. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Nicky Cadden has made it a Hibs double after being named Scottish Premiership player of the month for December.

It follows David Gray taking the manager prize for December.

Midfielder Cadden helped Hibs to four wins from five, scoring in victory at Pittodrie and providing three assists during the month, including setting up both goals in the derby win over Hearts.

"I just want to help out the team," Cadden told HibsTV, external.

"Most importantly it's about us getting up the table, our form has been really good and hopefully it can continue.

"We're looking forward to every Saturday now."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The Hibs revival rolls on and it's now six games unbeaten after the breathless draw with Rangers where David Gray's side hauled themselves back from a two-goal deficit.

While Gray will pass all the praise on to the players for the turnaround in fortunes, he has shown a bravery over the past few months that few others would have taken.

The switch to a back three eventually brought success to a defence that was leaking goals and looked vulnerable whenever under pressure.

Don't get me wrong, it's still been a bit hairy at times but the team are now working as a group and battling for each other whenever they come under the cosh.

The Premiership table looks much healthier than a few weeks ago.

But with only 11 points separating Dundee United in third and Hearts in 11th, every point gained between now and the split in April will be crucial.

Next up for Hibs is Motherwell, who have been inconsistent at times but when they hit form, they are extremely dangerous.

But if Gray's men show the same determination and grit they have recently they have little to fear.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

You'll struggle to see a more bonkers game of football than Hibs' 3-3 draw with Rangers.

We went from the ridiculous to the sublime and back, several times, throughout a pulsating 90 minutes where the Hibs fans went from dreading a drubbing to leaving the ground wondering how we hadn't won.

We got off to a nightmare start with some calamitous defending, with Lewis Miller and Rocky Bushiri the most notable culprits in the early exchanges, and were duly punished by Rangers' Hamza Igamane, who helped himself to two of the easiest goals he'll score this season.

It looked for all the world like Hibs were going to be on the end of a hiding, and folk around me were talking about leaving when the inevitable third went in.

However, David Gray's side had other ideas. Having played their way back into the game, Hibs pulled a goal back through Martin Boyle before half-time.

Hibs were like a team possessed in the second half. Chances came and went but Boyle notched his second goal from the penalty spot after Josh Campbell was brought down by Ianis Hagi.

Philippe Clement questioned the decision, as he did Hibs' penalty in the corresponding fixture at Ibrox earlier in the season. One might half-jokingly suggest it's more the rarity of the Glasgow side conceding penalties that causes the confusion, rather than the incidents themselves. Not me, though.

Rangers regained the lead as Igamane notched his hat-trick following more sloppy defending, but we would have the last laugh as Rocky Bushiri powered home an equaliser as full-time loomed.

It was chaotic, bonkers, thrilling stuff at Easter Road, a great advert for Scottish football.

The Hibs players gave absolutely everything to take something from the game, a reflection on why the team's fortunes have taken such an upturn in recent times.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external

Hibs fans, we recently asked you for your January transfer wishlist.

Here's what some of you said:

Peter: Hibs are still in dire need of a seasoned centre-back and I would say an out- and-out goalscorer.

David: Another keeper, central defender, a holding midfielder with leadership and an attacking midfielder.

Alan: A goalkeeper, a box-to-box midfielder and a centre-half.

Scott: Very simple, a goalkeeper. Don't tinker with the momentum and confidence elsewhere. We have a clearout coming in the summer, so start thinking about that now.

Kenny: We need to strengthen the spine of the team. Another goalkeeper - Zander Clark would be good - a centre-half, someone for the middle of midfield to take charge and drive the team on, and a centre forward. We can then build on that. The manager will know by now which players he no longer wants at the club.

David: A new goalkeeper is a must and I expect an attacking midfielder as we do lack a 10. An Emiliano Marcondes type that we brought in last January. If we receive a decent offer for Elie Youan, he will be off. Moving these guys on may free up space for another forward who can hopefully do a 'Myziane Maolida' from last January.

Martin: A decent goalkeeper, a playmaker and one centre-back would do me.

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Martin Boyle reveals a team talk in the Hibs dressing room has helped them turn things around at Easter Road.

David Gray's side battled from 2-0 down to snatch a point in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Rangers.

The Edinburgh outfit are now unbeaten in their last six Premiership encounters and are only one point behind St Mirren in sixth.

"We're more together now," the striker, who scored twice on Sunday, said.

"We're all on the same wavelength. It's not been the best start for us.

"We had a chat and we've turned things around. We talked about the home truths, the meaning of playing for this club, how we had to get a grip and turn things around.

"There's still a lot of things we can improve on, the character is there and we are showing glimpses.

"Maybe a few months ago we would have lost that game. Hopefully we can keep going and break into the top six."

Martin Boyle: The 31-year-old looked back to his best against Rangers in an incredible 3-3 draw. Two goals to draw Hibs level and wasn't far away from a match-winning hat-trick goal.

Hibs fans, we asked for your views on Sunday's dramatic 3-3 draw with Rangers.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Gordon: Well done Hibs, a great fightback. To come back twice was brilliant. As recently as a few weeks back, at 2-0 down we would have folded, not now. This team have discovered a renewed togetherness and fighting spirit. Rocky Bushiri scored a great equaliser but defensively he was largely panicky and all over the place, particularly for Rangers' first goal.

Peter: We were caught napping twice and early on, a spirited comeback saw us take a fair share of the points. David Gray changed the shape when it looked like they would overrun us, they didn't seem to have a plan B. We looked the likely team to score, but they scored after we gifted them the ball. Stop making mistakes at the back and we will make top six.

Johnny: Well fought Hibs, we showed good team spirit to get a deserved draw. The slow start once again showed our weakness at the back, sort this and we can push on.

Michael: Would have taken a point before the game. Gave ourselves a mountain to climb by going 2-0 down but credit to the lads for bouncing back and claiming a point. I believe we've only lost one out of the last eight games. Just shows how bad our start was that we're still not in the top six.

Aidan: Don't want to be overly critical but the goals lost are soft. The first 30 mins of the game were spent looking nervous and that's no good when playing at home. Have to be happy with the point however we could have lost this game on another day. To finish positively, it's January and that presents an opportunity to bring in the quality needed.

Conor: Terrible first 30 mins, great battling second half and the players showed belief in themselves. Nectarios Triantis was excellent, good when Nathan Moriah-Welsh came on. A couple of wins in the next two and we're getting closer to fourth.

The Sportscene team analyse Hibs' late equaliser against Rangers on Sunday.

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• Martin Boyle has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Hibernian player.

• Hamza Igamane has scored seven goals in the Premiership this season (three in this game), no Rangers player has more.

• Hamza Igamane scored after just three minutes and 53 seconds, the fastest goal for Rangers in the Premiership this season.

• Hibernian have scored in each of their last six games in the Premiership, scoring 13 goals in that run.

• Hibernian have won 10 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee United (11) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

• Hibernian are undefeated in their last six games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 17 February 2024 to 16 March 2024.

• Ianis Hagi has assisted four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Rangers player has more.

Watch all six goals from Hibernian's dramatic 3-3 draw with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership (UK only).

Watch all six goals from Hibernian and Rangers' Scottish Premiership draw in 60 seconds (UK only).

Hibs head coach David Gray: "Rangers are a very good side and giving them a two-goal start, it's hard to come back from that.

"We were trying to get after them but Rangers picked us off too many times.

"Rangers caught us on transition a lot and we got the decision on when to press wrong a few times, almost making Rangers' minds up, and they were able to cut through us.

"We changed the shape a bit after 25 minutes to try and get a foothold in the game. You give up a bit of possession, stick with that back five and keep our midfielders doing the running rather than the full-backs jumping, and we got in 2-1 at half-time, which was huge.

"For the effort and character shown in the second half, I think we at least deserve a point.

"We should probably have gone 3-2 up. Miller hits the post, Gayle had a good chance. To get pegged back and come again shows massive character.

"There are a lot of things to still work on, when you look at how we started the game and conceding three goals, but full credit to the players for the effort and desire shown.

"All in all we're in a good place. Confidence is high and we need to keep moving forward."

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Were you at Easter Road or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the chaotic 3-3 draw between Hibernian and Rangers - have your say, external.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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A late Rocky Bushiri leveller in chaotic 3-3 draw with Aberdeen in November sparked Hibs' upturn in form. The centre-back's late leveller in this one keeps momentum rolling.

David Gray's back three were pulled apart throughout the opening period and it was unfolding into a sobering afternoon, but the character they have shown in recent weeks to turn their season around was on view again in a spirited comeback draw.

They have now won 10 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season - only Dundee United (11) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

In fact, it could have been better for the hosts had Dwight Gayle or Lewis Miller converted headers with the score at 2-2, the latter watching his come off a post.

But Gray will be more than satisfied with a draw, given the fact his team were two down in the first half before going behind again on minute 74.

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Hibernian expect to have Elie Youan back following a foot injury, while fellow forward Mykola Kuharevich and midfielder and captain Joe Newell face fitness checks after missing recent matches with groin issues.

Marvin Ekpiteta and Kieron Bowie are still out.

Rangers captain James Tavernier remains on the sidelines beside fellow defenders John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo.

Goalkeeper Jack Butland and centre-half Leon Balogun are unlikely to return, while midfielder Tom Lawrence continues his return to fitness.

Young defender Robbie Fraser was a substitute against Celtic on Thursday but has since joined Livingston on loan.