Nathan Moriah-Welsh's arrival at Hibernian in January was one of very few bright spots during a Scottish Premiership season that ended with an eighth-place finish and too many goals conceded. 

The determined midfielder, who only turned 22 in March, signed a permanent deal from Bournemouth and caught the eye as a combative addition in the engine room, providing something that Hibs had been lacking in the first half of the campaign. 

Speaking from the club's training camp in the Netherlands, he admitted the season hadn't been good enough - but the players were fully focused on putting things right as soon as the competitive schedule starts with that Premier Sports Cup trip to Elgin City on July 13. 

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Signed by Nick Montgomery, he is sanguine about the former Central Coast Mariners manager's departure - and enjoying working under his successor David Gray.

“It was sad and unfortunate but that’s how football is, isn’t it? The results don’t back it up and we weren’t there. But it’s been good here, the gaffer has been top. He gave the lads who were on international duty a bit more time off," Moriah-Welsh explained.

"We’re straight back into the hard work now but it’s been positive. There’s a good feeling around the camp. We just want to put things right after last season. I think we all know that, and we’re excited for the season to start. Our competitive games start next week so we’re raring to go and just want to get as many wins as we can."

The arrivals of goalkeeper Joe Bursik and central defenders Marvin Ekpiteta and Warren O'Hora hint at where Gray feels the team needed to be improved most. But while Hibs have similar targets every year in terms of where they finish in the league and their performance in both domestic cup competitions, Moriah-Welsh is guarded about saying too much - just that he likes what he has seen so far.

“I wouldn’t want to put a league placing on it but I think the sky’s the limit with this team, really, with the way we’ve come back and the signings we’ve made. The intent is there and it looks really good. Marvin, Warren, and Joe are the three lads who have come in and they have all brought good qualities. Even the lads coming back from loans like Nohan Kenneh have been really good.

“So the sky is the limit, provided we knuckle down and work hard. That’s the basis for everything. We work hard now, put in the graft, so we can hit the ground running when the season starts."

Knuckling down and working hard is second nature to Moriah-Welsh, who was doing extra work even when granted additional time off after international duty with Guyana.

“That’s just the way I am. I realised that last year wasn’t a good year for me in terms of quality on the ball, so even when I was out in Guyana I was still trying to do as much on-the-ball stuff and get better with it," he added.

“I think my out-of-possession stuff is good; I can get around the pitch well, I can tackle well, but the next step would be to get better in possession, get more assists, and be a more effective player. As I’m getting older it’s not just about being a young lad any more, it’s about imposing myself on games and trying to change the games as much possible both in and out of possession."

Despite his tender years Moriah-Welsh has already made 16 appearances for Guyana, captaining them on occasion, and is excited for the future. 

"Even the lads who still live in Guyana probably should be playing at a good level in the UK or wherever. They are good. But it’s just hard to get opportunities over there," he continued.

“Like a lot of places, I feel like if there was a plan in place and opportunities for players, we would have a much better programme. But because they’re not getting the exposure, which we always fight for, it’s tough for them to get a move. That is sad because you have a player who just doesn’t get the career he could have had. Just because it’s so hard to get noticed.

“But 100 per cent, we feel as if we’re heading in the right direction. It’s always tough with the politics side of it. A lot of nations in our region, some of the AFCON nations as well, the talent is there. They just need the platform."

Guyana play their home matches in Barbados while they wait for a suitable stadium to be finished. Construction is taking a while but with the side competitive against a Panama side and winning convincingly against Belize, Moriah-Welsh is optimistic about his country's future as well as that of his club.

“If we can get a good stadium and actually play our home games in Guyana, that has to help the next generation of kids. In one or two generations, you could have a World Cup side. It’s a long shot – but, like I said, anything is possible."

That sort of attitude should go down well with Hibs fans who are keen to see more drive, determination, and success from their team. If Moriah-Welsh can spread his never-say-die approach and constant strive to be the best he can throughout the rest of the Easter Road squad, it could be just what the dressing room needs.