Hibernian

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Manager David Gray is expecting Premiership-calibre opposition when Hibernian take on Ayr United in the tie of the Scottish Cup fifth round.

Hibs have found form in recent weeks and are undefeated in 10 games but can expect a difficult task at Somerset Park tonight against former Easter Road midfielder Scott Brown's Ayr, who are top of the Championship.

"It'll be a real difficult game. The expectation around it is on us to go and win, but they're on brilliant form, undefeated in eight games," said Gray.

"Scott Brown will have them right up for it. Their fans at home, the magic of the cup and everything that comes with that.

"We need to be ready for that. When you're winning games like they are, you play with a level of confidence, but we're on exactly the same thing."

Gray has been impressed with Brown's recruitment and is not surprised to see the Honest Men pushing for promotion to the Premiership.

"Scott has a really balanced squad - a lot of senior players, a lot of players that have played in the Premiership, but then also a lot of young players with energy," added the man who scored the winning goal in the 2016 Scottish Cup final for Hibs.

"He's also got real physical quality at the top of the pitch as well with George Oakley, and I know he's signed Curtis Main, so they've got different ways of playing.

"I know a lot of the players and have worked with a few, such as Jamie Murphy and Mikey Devlin, so he's recruited well in terms of the character.

"The flip side to that is I know them inside out, so how can we do the right things to combat them."

Nicky Cadden talks about playing alongside twin brother Chris in the current Hibs team.

Watch Hibs at Ayr United in the Scottish Cup fifth round on Friday on BBC Scotland from 19:30 GMT.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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David Gray has been speaking to the media before Hibs visit Ayr United in the Scottish Cup fifth round on Friday night - live on BBC Scotland.

Here are the key points from the Hibs boss:

• After a quiet January in which Hibs only signed one player - Gambia midfielder Alasana Manneh - Gray is "delighted all in all by where we started the window to where we ended the window".

• He adds that "the big thing was keeping hold of the key players as well".

• On Elie Youan, whose prospective move away on deadline day broke down: "His full focus is getting back on the pitch to make sure he gets to a level where we know he can be so effective."

• Gray adds: "That's my challenge now, to try and improve him between now and the end of the season because trying to replace someone like that can be very difficult with the qualities he's got."

• With Hibs on a 10-game unbeaten run, Gray knows expectations are high but is wary of an Ayr side "on brilliant form".

• Gray praised the job former Hibs midfielder Scott Brown has done with Ayr: "There's no surprise to see them right at the very top end of the Championship."

• He knows Ayr players such as Jamie Murphy and Mikey Devlin having worked with them in recent years and says Brown's squad is a "really good" balance of top-flight experience and young talent.

• Youan and Joe Newell remain absent from the squad. New signing Manneh is also unavailable.

We asked for your thoughts on Hibernian's business in the January transfer window.

Here's what some of you said:

Mark: I'm amazed Hibs didn't sign another keeper. Jordan Smith has been OK, but what happens if he gets injured? Josef Bursik made mistake after mistake before being replaced by Smith. Although we have improved defensively, I would have expected another centre-back as well.

Scott: Have to say I'm a bit disappointed. The main positives are the retention of Elie Youan and getting rid of Luke Amos and Harry McKirdy who were never good enough to be at Hibs anyway.

William: A strong experienced centre-back was a must, and an goal-scoring midfielder would have helped. Any injuries or suspensions will leave us short. A top-six spot is in the balance.

Ally: Hibs are going through a great bit of form and the team are working together really well. The squad doesn't need any major improvements and bringing in too many new players would alter the team's dynamic which could disrupt this great form resulting in us losing points. It would be wiser to save the money for the summer transfer.

Kieran: I'm not sure why we only brought in one player. I understand the need for quality to be brought in instead of just anyone, but if two or three injuries occur to first-team regulars, our bench is then back to the bare bones. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite us, especially with third place in the league so attainable.

John: Given the frequent injuries to Kieron Bowie, Mykola Kuharevich and Youan, together with Dwight Gayle's advancing years, I fear we may have left ourselves a little short of firepower up top.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

The transfer window silently and slowly closed on Monday night with the extent of Hibs' deadline-day activity being the late announcements of the departures of Luke Amos and Harry McKirdy by mutual agreement.

Hibs' focus is firmly on the summer, with a host of first-team players falling out of contract, and the message from the club has been clear that the next window will be the time for significant improvements.

With third place now within touching distance, it does feel like an opportunity lost by the club.

The solitary signing of Alasana Manneh from Odense will give Hibs a creative boost in the middle of the park, but fans will be asking where the benefit of the Black Knights relationship is as another window passes without much evidence of any tangible difference to where we were before their investment.

It's a gamble for Hibs, albeit one that costs less than the speculate-to-accumulate approach that has so far completely failed to accumulate since the Gordon family took over.

Perhaps the losses of recent years have brought the stark reality of the cost of owning a football club home to the Americans and their appetite to throw money at the squad is waning?

On the flip side, the squad is in a good place at the moment, with Marvin Ekpiteta and Joe Newell set to follow recent returnees Keiron Bowie and Mykola Kuharevich in joining the first team.

There is more strength in depth and, crucially, a winning culture within the team that David Gray will be reluctant to disrupt. Couple that with retaining Elie Youan and Rocky Bushiri, and the transfer window could even be described as a success.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external

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Ayr United manager and former Hibernian player Scott Brown is not interested in the vacancy at Motherwell. (Sun), external

Brown reveals his and Hibs head coach David Gray's children attend the same football club on a Friday and the pair are missing it this week for the Ayr United v Hibernian Scottish Cup tie. (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Director of football Malky Mackay has explained why Hibernian only made one signing in the January transfer window, citing the importance of "not breaking team cohesion" as a reason.

Hibernian added Gambia international Alasana Manneh to their midfield ranks, while Harry McKirdy, Luke Amos and Jake Doyle-Hayes - as well as youngsters Josh O'Connor and Josh Landers - left the club permanently and Nohan Kenneh departed on loan.

Mackay stressed "only players who would break into the starting XI" were considered by the club.

"It was important we didn't break the team cohesion, the momentum that's going at the moment, the culture that's in the squad," Mackay told Hibs TV.

"So we brought in Alasana Manneh into the midfield and as far as the rest of the squad was concerned, we just had to make sure anyone else who was going to be considered would actually break into the starting XI.

"That wasn't the case and the model going forward is to make sure our short-term and long-term goals are sustainable."

Mackay added that the five players coming back from injury - Kieron Bowie, Joe Newell, Marvin Ekpiteta, Elie Youan and Mykola Kukharevych - will be a boost for the second half of the season as Hibs look for a top-six finish.

On Youan, who remains a Hibs player after deadline-day talks with Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers collapsed, Mackay expressed his delight at the forward staying.

"We consider everything that's best for the football club and if it's not the best thing, then it doesn't happen," he added. "We're delighted he's staying."

With the transfer window now closed, how do you feel about Hibernian's January business?

David Gray brought in just one player, Gambia midfielder Alasana Manneh, while trimming a bloated squad.

Harry McKirdy, Luke Amos and Jake Doyle-Hayes - as well as youngsters Josh O'Connor and Josh Landers - left the club permanently and Nohan Kenneh departed on loan.

Are Hibs in better shape now for their pursuit of a European place? Or did they miss a trick in the window?

Have your say on Hibernian's transfer business., external

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Luke Amos and Harry McKirdy have both left Hibs by mutual consent.

Amos signed for Hibs in January 2024 and went on to make 15 appearances across all competitions for the Easter Road club.

"Luke hasn't played as much as he'd like this season, and expressed an interest to explore other opportunities," head coach David Gray told club media.

"We have allowed him to move on and make the next steps in his playing career.

"I would like to thank Luke for his efforts and wish him all the best moving forward."

McKirdy joined the club in September 2022 but his time at the Easter Road club was hampered due to a health issue.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Elie Youan will be staying at Hibs after talks with both Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers broke down.

Youan has been absent for Hibs since the Boxing Day win over city rivals Hearts.

The 25-year-old joined Hibernian initially on loan from Belgian side Mechelen in 2022 before signing a permanent deal the following year.

Hibernian remain open to offers for a number of players including Harry McKirdy and Luke Amos who will be leaving the club.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Chris Cadden provided the assist for brother Nicky as the Hibs revival continues.

As for Nicky, he was outstanding again down the left flank. He is impressive every week and bagged his fifth goal of the season in the win against Aberdeen.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Nicky Cadden's influence for Hibs after his goal in their 2-0 win over Aberdeen.

Watch highlights of Hibs' 2-0 win against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Hibs' 2-0 win against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

David: A fine three points, the players and David Gray deserve credit given the pressure of going into the game as favourites. Nectarios Triantis and Martin Boyle again our best players but the centre-backs were solid too. However, a poor Aberdeen who barely threatened. All about looking up the table now.

Euan: Hibs are purring along nicely now, four points off Dundee United, the chase is on.

Kenny: A very good performance against a good side. Again every player worked hard and that's the difference between now and the first half of the season. We are all playing for each other and the fans are right behind David and the team. Keep it going.

John: Again the back three were immense, Triantis and Dylan Levitt were excellent in the first half, along with both Nicky and Chris Cadden. We surrendered the midfield after going 2-0 up instead of killing the game. Great to win without being at our best.

Tam: Toothless Aberdeen performance and an easy three points for Hibs. The revival continues and long may it do so. Hibs so comfortable and a former leaky defence are looking very assured, onward and upward.

George: Great result and very good performance. Looked balanced across the park. Triantis being run close for man of the match by Boyle and Cadden. Aberdeen's lack of confidence showed, they looked blunt up top and short of ideas all over, until, perhaps the last 10 minutes, but even then Hibs' defence coped well. Great result.

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Nicky Cadden insists Hibs were "deserved" winners against Aberdeen on Saturday.

The winger scored the Edinburgh side's second goal in their 2-0 victory over the Dons at Easter Road.

David Gray's men are now fifth in the top flight table, two points behind Jimmy Thelin's side in fourth.

"At 1-0 it's a wee bit of a dodgy scoreline," Cadden said.

"If they go up the park and score it takes the two points away from us. But we started well after half-time and got the goal.

"I think our defensive work was very good and I don't really think they looked like they were going to score.

"The first goal was very vital. We worked on set pieces the day before and that was one that came up and Nectar [Triantis] has reacted well to it and put it in.

"To be honest I felt like we deserved it with the run of play.

"They [Aberdeen] don't go ten games unbeaten without being a good side and obviously they're in a bad bit at the minute but I'm sure they'll turn around."

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• Hibernian are undefeated in their last nine games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 12 May 2021 to 26 September 2021.

• Aberdeen have lost their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 21 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, a run of five games.

• Hibernian have scored in their last nine games in the Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Aberdeen have failed to score in their last five games in the Premiership, their last longer run of games without scoring a goal in the competition was a run of six games from 27 January 2021 to 17 February 2021.

Stoke City have made a bid in the region of about £1.5m plus add-ons for 25-year-old Hibernian forward Elie Youan. (STV), external

Hibs are braced for late transfer window interest in their Elie Youan after they booted out a bid last week from Blackburn Rovers for the 25-year-old French forward, who has numerous admirers in the English Championship and in France. (The Scotsman), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibernian have received a bid for winger Elie Youan from English Championship side Stoke City.

Youan hasn't featured for the club this year through injury with his last game being the 2-1 away win over city rivals Hearts on Boxing Day.

After the club's victory against Aberdeen, manager David Gray said the forward would only be allowed to leave if the deal was right for the club.

"I know we're very close to the end of the window now and it's 48 hours before it comes," Gray said. "Everything needs to be right for everyone involved.

"Elie's a player that's always attracted speculation because of his attributes. In previous windows, there was a lot of interest in him and we need to make sure that it's right for the football club."

Gray confirmed other clubs have expressed an interest in the French forward in both this and previous windows.

"There's always interest and speculation around him," Gray added. "A lot can happen in 48 hours like we all know.

"We just need to make sure we're in a position ready and we do everything right to make sure we end the window as strong as we can."