Harry McKirdy urged to take Hibs second chance as David Gray issues challenge

David Gray has challenged Harry McKirdy to take his second chance at Hibs after a difficult spell at the club.

The attacker joined from Swindon only to be allowed to leave on loan as his minutes were limited under both Lee Johnson and then Nick Montgomery. Gray, the new permanent head coach, knows just what McKirdy is capable of having helped coach him in the first-team and he hopes to see the best of him after he returned from his loan stint down south.

McKirdy helped Hibs to a 5-0 thumping of Edinburgh City yesterday and Gray has urged the attacker to keep it up as he wiped the slate clean on what could still be a big future for the player.

"He is a brilliant trainer and works really hard, you can see the quality he’s got," the boss said. "It’s probably not gone the way he wanted it to go when he first joined the club, but he recognises what is in front of him and it’s up to him to work as hard as he can and up to us as staff to get the best out of him.

“You see the ability he has, he does that everyday in training and applies himself really well. He has come back in really good condition and started the season well, so it’s up to him to keep pushing every single day.

“I thought he did well. I thought everybody did well. I know every player inside out. That’s the benefit of me being in this position. I know their strengths and weaknesses, but the players we’ve got, they’ve all got opportunities to impress.

“Regardless of whether that’s now or in any game, every time you go on the training pitch, you’ve got a responsibility to be the best you can be. That’s the important bit, that every player does that every day because being judged every day is part of being a professional footballer.”