Gray Looking To Pick Up Momentum

Hibernian Head Coach David Gray believes having an entire week on the training pitch with his squad is a “huge” plus heading into this weekend’s match against Celtic. 

This regular, though uncommon as of late, time of the training pitch will afford our January additions and players returning from injury the opportunity to link back into the squad for a prolonged period at HTC for the first time.

Speaking to Hibs TV, Gray noted how having a full week of training will "certainly help" his side as they look to harness last weekend's assured performance against St Mirren to gain positive momentum.

“A lot of the players have only been in the building a short period of time and have been thrown into games. There are always parts of games where we are always educating the (new) players and we’re always trying to improve all the time. 

“Having a wee bit more time on the grass will certainly help with that. Added to that, we have a few players back in as well. We’re in a much healthier place and we have a good feeling off the back of a positive result at home, which is always something to build on.”

Owen Elding, with a fine header to grab his first goal in Hibs colours on his first start, and fellow new arrival Ante Šuto were on the scoresheet at Easter Road last weekend as Gray’s men secured a 2-0 win over St Mirren. 

The professional performance sets Hibs up nicely for a trip to Glasgow, as we take on Martin O’Neill’s Celtic – who head into the match off the back of a Thursday night defeat to Stuttgart. The Hoops were well-beaten 4-1 by the German outfit at Parkhead, and will now look to rectify the defeat with a positive domestic result.

Though Hibs have failed to win at Celtic Park for many years, Gray insists the right mentality, and the right tweaks following analysis of recent close encounters with our upcoming opponents, will put Hibs on the right path to securing a strong result. 

“It has been a long time. 2010, I think, was the last time a Hibs team went there and won. It shows that history says it is difficult. The belief has to be there. We have spoken to the players about that, having that mentality and mindset to make sure we go there with the right attitude to do that. 

“History is there to be changed in a positive way so why can’t we go there and do that. The squad can build on last week’s performance and take the game to Celtic to try and get three points, that has to be the mindset, that has to the game plan going through there. It will be difficult, we know that. 

“The last time we went to Celtic Park it was a 0-0 draw, we probably didn't play as well as we would've like. There are lessons to be learned from watching that one back. 

“It is a brilliant game to look forward to, it’s one the players will certainly look forward to, and off the back of the last result we want to get some momentum going.”