Positive reaction from Hibs players in training ahead of Dundee United game
David Gray has seen a reaction in training from his players on Saturday as they prepare to face Dundee United in the William Hill Premiership tomorrow.
Hibs were beaten by Aberdeen last weekend, a result which ended the Club's 17-game unbeaten streak in the league.
With just four games left, and with everything to play for, Gray said: 'It's been positive this week. We were conscious after the game that we left that feeling of disappointment and came in on Monday making sure everyone is fully focused on bouncing back as quickly as possible.
'I've seen a reaction in training, and these are all massive games. This is the stage of the season where everyone is desperate to play and to take the team forward.
'I've been quick to remind the players why we were successful in that run we had and what it took to get us there. We need to take that into the game on Saturday.'
Dundee United were beaten heavily by the Scottish Champions last weekend, but are just three points behind Hibs in the league table.
Gray doesn't think their result, though, will have much bearing on the game on Saturday.
'Celtic can do that to anyone, we know that. This weekend will be a difficult game. Both teams have everything to play for and there's four cup finals left now.
'We're at home, we want a reaction, and want to bounce back. We need to be on the front foot.
'Like I said, it'll be a difficult game, you think about the games we've played against Dundee United and the fact they've been in the top six all season because they're hard to beat. They're very well coached and we expect that again.
'If we can play to the levels we can, then we give ourselves a chance to get three points.'
Gray also provided a fitness update on Lewis Miller and Elie Youan.
Youan has been recovering from a toe injury for a few weeks now, whilst Miller missed the Aberdeen game with a knock.
The duo returned to full team training earlier this week, and the head coach discussed their availability.
'Elie joined training later on this week, as did Lewis Miller, which is great, they're getting fit at the right sort of time.
'We will have to see how they go, though, because they've not had a lot of training this week. They're back around the group, which is good news.'
Like this:
Like
Related
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Reporter
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
McLennan switches from Ayr to Livingston
Winger McLennan has left Ayr United to join The Lions and the former Aberdeen forward made a key contribution to the Ayrshire club in their promotion push last season. The 25-year-old who was born in Peterhead moves under freedom of contract and it is understood that he has signed a two-year deal with David Martindale's men. The manager (pictured) is reported to being keen to bring in ten new players for their campaign in the William Hill Premiership However, club captain Jamie Brandon, a former Hearts player, who can play in defence or midfield, has left the newly-promoted club at the expiry of his contract. The 27-year-old has been linked with Kilmarnock. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Scottish envy as Australia clinch World Cup joy of six - and tiny nation named after Scotland could join them
Several countries already home and hosed for 2026 tournament Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The hand went up, as we have seen so many times at Hibs. And then Martin Boyle delivered a free-kick with unerring accuracy on to the head of Mitch Duke, whose neat glance put Australia in front against Saudi Arabia in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier. It was, to all intents and purposes, the clincher. The one that made it six in a row. Six World Cups. SIX. The Joy of Six. You can imagine the fun newspapers are having in Australia and the fun papers in Scotland would be having if Scotland ever managed to string together such a run of successes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In Australia's case, it stretches back to 2006. Maybe Scotland should do what Australia did just prior to that World Cup and apply to join another confederation. Hibs winger Martin Boyle (left) celebrates Australia's win over Saudi Arabia and subsequent qualification for the 2026 World Cup with teammates Connor Metcalfe and Aiden O'Neill at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. (Photo by) | Getty Images Scotland were one of the reasons why the Australia Football Federation petitioned Fifa to leave Oceania and move to the Asian Football Confederation. Alex Ferguson's side beat Australia in a two-legged play off for Mexico '86. The winners of the Oceania qualifying group were bound to play another team from either Europe or South America and invariably came to grief. Australia did overcome Uruguay in 2005 to punch their ticket, as Fifa like to call it, for the finals in Germany the following summer but had already been accepted into the diocese of the Asian Football Confederation. That was described by Frank Lowy, the chairman of the Australian Football Federation at the time, as 'the most significant decision ever in the history of Australia football'. It was certainly transformative. They have not missed out on a World Cup since. Even Tuesday's victory over Saudi Arabia was lacking any real jeopardy. They simply had to avoid losing by five goals, although the hosts did cause some mild panic my taking the lead in Jeddah after 19 minutes. In truth, Australia had done the hard work when beating Japan 1-0 in Perth a few days earlier with a goal from former Dundee United full back Aziz Behich. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs duo Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller are front and centre as the Australia squad pose for a picture after securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup. (Photo by) | Getty Images This week's confirmation of their place at world football's top table next summer means they have exceeded Scotland's five successive World Cups between 1974 and 1990. As with Scots in that era, Australians now in their mid-twenties to early 30s will have known nothing else other than their country qualifying for World Cups. They will need to be in their 60s to remember the only other time the Socceroos qualified, in 1974. It's getting this way for Scotland – 1998, the last time the Scottish men's team qualified, is receding deeper and deeper into the past. Those now in their mid-30s might just about recall Scotland players walking about the Stade de France in kilts before taking on Brazil in the tournament's opening game. Of course, qualification for the next one in USA, Canada and Mexico remains firmly in Scotland's own hands, as it does for all of Europe's teams. The qualification path has already started for some European teams, while others, like Scotland, will begin a short, intense campaign in the Autumn. In the meantime, slots are filling up. Uzbekistan, currently ranked 57 in the world, have just qualified for the first time since independence in 1991. It's fun – up to a point - to savour the joy of others. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Uzbekistan are the first team from central Asia to qualify for a World Cup, where they will be joined by Jordan, Japan, South Korea and Iran as well as old staples Brazil, who secured qualification under the Ancelottis - Carlo and his recently Rangers-linked son Davide are now in charge of the Selecao - with a 1-0 win over Paraguay. Ecuador have also qualified from South America, as have holders Argentina. New Caledonia players pose before the 2026 World Cup Oceania qualifiers group final match against New Zealand at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images New Zealand have already qualified from the Oceania Confederation having been the beneficiaries of Fifa's decision to finally grant an automatic place to the top team from this region. The All Whites won a third-round play-off against New Caledonia earlier this year. Intriguingly, New Caledonia have a second chance at qualification through the Fifa Play-Off tournament in Spring next year, when six teams will fight it out for two places at the World Cup. The group of islands in the south-western Pacific Ocean, with a population of just 270,000, could become the smallest and lowest ranked nation to ever qualify for the tournament. What a dull one that would be if a country named after Scotland by explorer Captain Cook, who thought the mountains of Grande Terre, one of the islands, reminded him of the Scottish Highlands, made it to the biggest sporting party on earth while the actual original Scotland remained at home. Steve Clarke will be ensuring his team strain every sinew in an effort to get there over the course of six games later this year.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Josh Doig rekindles Celtic transfer interest as Kristoffer Ajer return route emerges
The former Hibs defender has been a long-term target for the Hoops Kieran Tierney is only just in the door at Celtic Park but Brendan Rodgers is wasting no time targeting another left-back. The Hoops have bolstered their backline by clinching a sensational return for fans' favourite KT from Arsenal on a five-year deal. Tierney, 28, will be one of the first names on Celtic's team sheet as the Scotland international rejoins his boyhood club at his prime. However, the defender's injury record coupled with Greg Taylor's likely exit, means that Celts are in the market for cover. And multiple reports have suggested that the Scottish champions are set to revive their interest in ex- Hibs starlet Josh Doig. Doig, 23, left Easter Road for Serie A side Hellas Verona in a £3million transfer back in 2022 and instantly caught the eye in Italy. After a dream switch to Marseille collapsed at the 11th hour, Doig joined Sassuolo for £5m in January 2024 but couldn't save the club from relegation. However, the full-back was a key figure in helping Sassuolo land promotion from Serie B at the first time of asking, making 31 appearances. Doig has been on Celtic's transfer radar since he first broke through at Hibs and now, it's claimed that the Double-winners are weighing up an offer. Meanwhile former Treble hero Kristoffer Ajer has been told to find another club by Norway manager Stale Solbakken, according to Sky Sports. The towering stopper, 27, endured an injury-hit campaign for Brentford, starting just twice since the March international break. Under contract until 2028, Ajer may feel he'll be given a clean slate by his next boss as Thomas Frank prepares to take over Tottenham. Ajer - who lifted nine major honours at Parkhead - left Celtic for the Bees in a £13.5m switch four years ago. The 43-times capped star made his big career breakthrough under Rodgers and his potential availability has set tongues wagging amongst the green-and-white faithful. Elsewhere, Record Sport understands Celtic are keeping close tabs on Lennon Miller's situation and were in contact with the Motherwell board in the last window. The Scotland new boy has been linked with a list of European clubs including Eintracht Frankfurt and Royal Union St Gilloise and the Steelman have already turfed out bids from Udinese and Gilloise. It's believed Celtic have also scouted Hearts' James Penrice, but won't necessarily pursue a deal for the left-back.
