'Hibs must replace quantity with quality as big summer looms'

With Chris Cadden signing a new deal at Hibs, Alasana Manneh snapped up in January on a three-and-a-half-year deal, and Aberdeen's Jamie McGrath secured on a pre-contract, things are starting to shape up ahead of a huge season for Hibs.

There's still much to play for this season, but the decks have been cleared to allow David Gray the opportunity to really strengthen the squad in the summer.

Hibs' recruitment has been fairly shambolic in recent times, and this left the squad bloated and expensive. The summer's window is a chance to replace quantity with quality and it's essential the club learn lessons from previous windows.

Mackay has Garvan Stewart as the club's head of recruitment, his experience at Bournemouth will be pivotal in helping Hibs make the most of the relationship with Black Knights.

The recent upturn in performances from the current squad, along with the potential of European football depending on how well we see out the season, has taken the pressure off Mackay, Stewart and Gray - it's much easier to build from a position of strength than from a weak starting point.

McGrath, Cadden and Manneh represent great business and are promising signs of things to come.

It's shaping up for an exciting summer, but the main focus is three points on Saturday - our last game against Dundee proved something of a catalyst for the team, and this is a chance to put that evening well and truly behind us.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers

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