To David Gray's credit, he doesn't roll his eyes or allow himself a snarky response when faced with that one question he's been asked time, and time, and time again. It's also the second time he's answered it in a matter of hours, having addressed it on Sky Sports in the morning before the regular pre-match press conference at the Hibernian Training Centre to preview Sunday's Scottish Premiership opener against St Mirren in Paisley.

"Any new faces coming in?"

There have been plenty of rumours, particularly in recent days. A return for former loanee Mykola Kukharevych has been mooted, although that particular move might hinge on Swansea City bolstering their own attacking options; while free agent Junior Hoilett, late of Aberdeen, has also been linked with a move to the capital and would certainly add a bit more experience to the squad. Fulham's Scottish forward Kieron Bowie is another on the club's radar, but it's understood that St Johnstone forward Adama Sidibeh isn't, despite links crediting Hibs with an interest in the Gambian internationalist. 

Gray is repeating himself, and knows it, but states that the focus is very much on beefing up his options in the final third. 

"We're working very hard on transfers. It's something I've mentioned a lot now. We know we're light in forward areas but working very hard to do something. But we're focusing on bringing in the right people. We're not just signing anyone for the sake of signing people. We're going through the full process, making sure we bring the right type in."

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Hibs have already brought in goalkeepers Josef Bursik and Jordan Smith, and centre-back duo Marvin Ekpiteta and Warren O'Hora, addressing two problem areas for Hibs given the departures of Paul Hanlon and Will Fish from last season's defensive corps and David Marshall's retirement to take up a new role as technical performance manager at Hibs. 

“We’re really happy with the business we’ve done so far: the type of people they are, the leaders we’ve recruited, the way they train every day. They’ve really added to the group and created that feel-good factor around the building, so we are very conscious of bringing in the right people," Gray continues. 

There's still a good chunk of the transfer window remaining but Hibs get the league campaign underway on Sunday with a trip west. A quick glance on social media reveals just how sections of the fanbase feel about a perceived lack of progress on the recruitment front. 

“There are a lot of conversations being had at the minute. Hopefully, that can progress in days, rather than weeks," Gray admits. 

He accepts that the Euros have had a part to play in the glacial nature of the window, not just for Hibs but in general. While the Easter Road recruitment team are unlikely to be looking at anyone who featured in Germany, those that did have been granted time off after the competition which means that younger players at teams in England who Hibs might be looking at are still being played so clubs can fulfil their fixture requirements. The waiting game might have to go on. 

"It has been a slow window for a number of reasons. We have a structure and process in place to bring players in but when you look around the world of football at the minute, for anyone fishing in the English market, a lot of clubs are keeping their younger players in squads because of the Euros happening and having to fulfil fixtures. That is probably slowing it down a bit.

"It’s a matter of being patient and being proactive and going after the targets we can get and being ready to pounce when we can. But the work is ongoing all the time. We are aware that we need to try and do this as quickly as we can, but we need to get the right ones in."

Gray's caution is understandable. Hibs' recruitment in recent seasons has been scattergun at best. The arrival of Malky Mackay as sporting director has seen the former Ross County manager head up a group comprising himself, Gray, Marshall, and the recruitment team in a bid to source the right type of players. It's not an exact science, and despite Gray dealing with a bloated, imbalanced squad, he insists that it isn't as simple as 'one in, one out' - and circumstances can open doors for players that were previously closed.

“It more depends on what comes about. Regardless of whether players are starting, on the bench, in the squad, not quite making the squad, my job and my staff’s job is to make every single player better every day," he adds. 

"You just never know. A week is a long time in football. Circumstances change, people move, players get injured. There’s no real set-in-stone, ‘This is my squad’ or, 'He’s not required' - not at all. You need to manage that situation every day but I think that’s why the atmosphere at the training ground is so good, because we’re all pulling in the same direction at the moment. Everyone’s got an opportunity."

He is reluctant to put an exact number on how many new recruits he has his eye on. He sidesteps questions about Kukharevych - 'I don't want to talk about players at other clubs' - but talks up Hoilett's ability - 'he was a big part of Aberdeen's success, especially latterly in the season' - even if he remains coy over whether or not the Canadian internationalist could continue his career at Easter Road.

"I don’t want to put an actual number on it," he says. "We are light in forward areas so that is something we are working hard to rectify and I’m sure there will be movement with regards to ins and out. It is just natural with the window being open. I would expect it to pick up, especially later in the window. It’s about doing the work as early as you can and being ready to act if something comes up."