Hibernian FC Head Coach, David Gray, is eager to get the 2024/25 campaign underway as his side travels to Elgin City in the Premier Sports Cup.
After a positive pre-season, which included three victories in pre-season friendlies, several new signings joining the Club and a productive training camp in the Netherlands, Gray is excited for the return of competitive football. He told Hibs TV:
“I am really looking forward to it and I’m really pleased with how preparations have gone over the last few weeks. Everything we have been doing has been gearing up towards the first competitive game - that has been our full focus.
“I am really happy with where the squad is, where the fitness levels are and the work we have managed to do - particularly in Holland.
“Since we have got back, the mood has been really positive - the camp was excellent and the new players have integrated into the squad really well.”
Ahead of the start of the new season, Gray named Joe Newell as his Club Captain – with the midfielder penning a new deal and extending his stay in Leith until summer 2027.
“It was an easy decision for me”, Gray continued.
“If I take myself back to one of my interim periods on charge - I gave Joe Newell the armband for the first time. The reason I did that was because I needed him to be the best player on the pitch that day. I thought by giving him that extra responsibility, I could try to get another 10% out of him.
“In the last few years, Joe has really developed into the role. There is a big difference between being captain and leading the boys on a Saturday - to being the Club Captain. As Club Captain, you still have a role and responsibility to lead and represent the badge off the pitch as well. That is something that can hopefully push Joe on again.
“From a performance point of view, he deserves it. In the last couple of years, we haven’t been as successful as we would’ve liked on the pitch, but Joe has always stood up to it - he’s always tried to drive the team forward with his own performances.
“He drives the standards on the training pitch and it’s now vital that he can embrace the role and hopefully it’ll help push him to become an even better player.”
Gray was part of the squad the last time we played Elgin City back in 2019, with Newell bagging his first goal for the Club in the same fixture in a 2-0 win. Gray highlighted what he expects from his players on Saturday.
“It will be a tough test, but one we need to be ready for. They are obviously playing in a lower league than ourselves but that means absolutely nothing.
“They have an opportunity to cause an upset so we need to guard against that. We’ve played against them a couple of times in the last few years, so it’s important that the players know what challenge they will face and we can bring home a positive result.”
