Fired-up Nathan Moriah-Welsh reckons David Gray’s boot up the a*** is exactly what Hibs need as they look to get their season kick-started.
Boss Gray made it clear after last Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup defeat at Celtic that players would be axed if they continued to make costly mistakes. Individual errors have been a theme in the Leith outfit losing their last three games. Two of those were against the Bhoys but there were also alarm bells ringing after the 3-0 defeat to St Mirren in their opening Premiership clash.
And midfielder Moriah-Welsh hopes Gray’s warning could be the catalyst Hibs need as they attempt to get their campaign up and running at home to Dundee this afternoon. He said: “Of course he was a bit frustrated, the mistake was unfortunate. But I think we needed that little kick up the a*** to get us going again. Now we’ve got a shot at redemption on Saturday.
“No-one wants to have that every week. So we’ll be trying as hard as possible to cut that out. There are going to be changes but if we can cut out the mistakes we’ll be in a much better place. It’s happened but we’ll try and do as well as we can.
“We’re still learning about each other, it’s been a good start, not result-wise but as a collective it’s been good and we’re learning about each other.
“It’s going to be important to get points on the board and get the season going, the last three games have been unfortunate but it’s in the past and we need to look forwards.”
Despite a disappointing start that saw Hibs struggle to lay a glove on the Bhoys in back-to-back league and cup losses, former Bournemouth playmaker Moriah-Welsh insists no-one at Hibs is panicking. He added: “It’s only been two weeks so far into the season so there are no alarms going on.
“There is no need to panic at all, we’re all calm. It’s not just the gaffer, it’s all the lads. We’re like, ‘keep calm’. It’s two weeks into the season, there is no reason for alarm bells.”
Dundee playmaker Luke McCowan will be under the spotlight today having been the subject of a series of failed bids from Hibs during the transfer window. But Hibs boss Gray refused to be drawn on his pursuit of McCowan.
Gray said: “For me he plays for Dundee. That does not change between now and the game. My full focus is on how we beat Dundee so that is all I am going to talk about on that one.”
But Gray admits he is ready to hand Hyeokkyu Kwon a debut today after the on loan Celtic midfielder was not able to face his parent club last weekend. He added: “He’s looked really good, he has settled in really well with the lads as well.
“Having been at Celtic and St Mirren on loan as well, it is not as if it’s his first loan out of Celtic and he has to find his feet. He understands Scottish football. I have had many chats with him that have gone really well and he has settled in really well.
“You can see the qualities has got in terms of technical ability but also his athleticism as well. I am delighted with that as well.”
