Hibs head coach Nick Montgomery has insisted Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson remain key members of his Easter Road squad, despite the long-serving pair no longer being able to count on regular starting berths with their contracts up in the summer.

Centre-back Hanlon has started just twice under the former Central Coast Mariners boss, coming off the bench on four occasions, while Stevenson has started three and made three appearances as a substitute, with Rocky Bushiri and Jordan Obita respectively ousting the pair from the starting XI - but both stalwarts still have important roles to play under Montgomery, who believes their history with the club speaks for itself. 

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Speaking earlier this month the Easter Road boss stressed that no talks had taken place with any of the club's out-of-contract players, with focus currently centring on the upcoming games rather than the long-term future of players. At 38, goalkeeper David Marshall is the most senior member of the dressing room and the former Scotland No.1 is also out of contract in the summer but Montgomery has suggested any contract negotiations will take place towards the end of the season.

“There’s been no conversation with any players regarding next season," he stated. "We’re fully focused on each game as it comes. Lewy and Paul have been fantastic servants and stalwarts of the club, they are consummate professionals - they’ve both started games this season and been on the bench, same as most players. 

“There are no issues with anyone in the squad and no decisions will be made until the club is in a position to do so. So it’s not something that we’ve even discussed. There are a number of players out of contract in the summer and no doubt towards the end of the season we will have those conversations," he explained.

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Montgomery also believes it is vital to get the right balance in terms of his dressing-room demographic, but reckons the longevity both players have at the club sets them apart from the rest - and their range of experiences in a Hibs shirt, with both suffering relegation, promotion, and cup wins, marks them out as priceless commodities in what is currently a rather thin-looking squad with two 16-year-olds regularly involved in the first-team group. 

“You need a good balance of youth and experience and I think we have that in the squad at the minute," Montgomery continued. "It’s always valuable to have experienced players in the dressing room, starting, coming off the bench, or whatever. That’s part of the squad dynamics and to be successful you need that balance.

“It’s a testament to Lewy and Paul that both of them have been at the club for a long time through some ups and some downs. They know exactly what the club is about, and the fanbase, and what’s expected. It’s always good to have people who love the club and have its best interests at heart," he added. 

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And it's not just players with decades of service who are important to Montgomery, with former club captain turned first-team coach and three-time caretaker manager David Gray also getting the seal of approval. 

"It’s good for those coming in to learn from players with that experience and then there's David Gray on the staff - there’s no one better to have on the staff. It’s always good to have people like that," he finished.