Bringing Kieron Bowie to Easter Road was the culmination of a long-held admiration on David Gray's part.

Listening to the Hibs head coach on Thursday, it's clear he feels the club have delivered him a player who ticks multiple boxes on the time-honoured manager's checklist. Gray rhymes off pedigree, attitude, talent and versatility as he speaks at length on the 21-year-old Scotland international. Acquired from Fulham for a fee understood to be in the region of £600,000, Bowie was minded to remain in England until Hibs came calling, having enjoyed two loan spells with Northampton Town.

Signing a four-year deal, the former Raith Rovers youth is Hibs' fourth signing within seven days, joining Mykolo Kukharevych, Junior Hoilett and Nicky Cadden in adding much-needed depth to Gray's frontline, one which was found wanting in Sunday's 3-0 chasing from St Mirren. The head coach suggested he will not rush any of them into full action, with each at varying levels of match fitness, but in Bowie it's clear he's been thrilled by the signing.

"When someone goes from Scotland down south, they always catch your eye," said Gray. "He did really well. And when we've had younger players in Scotland set-up, he's someone we've been aware of as young talent coming through. When he went out on loan last season, that's when I really noticed him. I thought he did really well - his pace and power causes teams a lot of problems from different positions.

"He can play right across the front three. He can play on his own or part of a two. To have that flexibility at such a young age is great but he's also got the attitude that he'll play anywhere you ask him to play. If you ask him, he'll want to be the out-and-out number nine, that's what forwards and strikers want to do in the middle scoring goals, but he's demonstrated that he can do it from numerous positions. That's the type of boy he is, the type of character we want to bring here."

Bowie is Hibs' eight signing of the summer, a number which somewhat belies fans' understandable summer agitation at the pace of business, a feeling certainly not quelled by the obvious squad deficiencies on show in Paisley last weekend. But while Gray has been repeatedly clear on how he'd rather have had these players in the door earlier, he does believe the Malky Mackay-led recruitment operation is working.

"I’m delighted we’ve managed to do it, the club have supported us on it and it’s been a collective," said Gray. "We’re all working in the same direction and I’m delighted with the support and backing I’ve had to get it across the line. Since I’ve been on this side of the fence, the generosity from the Gordon family especially to constantly back managers I think you can see that in terms of trying to provide players. I’ve felt nothing but support and I’m delighted with that, the structure we’ve got at the minute, especially with Malky helping as well. 

"I firmly believe the process in place and the structure that’s there now gives me a real chance to be successful and gets the club to where it needs to be, which is competing at the top of the league."

The sudden burst of signings, Gray insists, is not a panicked reaction to a nightmare first result of the season.

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"These players have been identified for a while and we've been working hard towards it," he continued. "From the outside I can understand why you'd ask that question but not at all, we've been pushing it all the time. Would I have liked them all earlier? One hundred per cent, but circumstances dictate that. The process has been quite slow right across football - we were tied to what we could do at the time. What I would say on it is that I'm delighted to have the additions we've got in. I'm delighted with where we are at the moment and my full focus is on getting the best out of them."

Celtic visit Easter Road on Sunday, the champions already in ominous form following a 4-0 opening day dismantling of Kilmarnock. But Gray is adamant such a test is the ideal opportunity for his evolving squad to bounce back from last week, and expects them to be inspired, not intimidated, by it.

“It’s a tough test, but it’s an exciting test," he said. "Especially with new players coming in, there’s no better way to try and get a reaction and test yourself against the best team in the league last season. I fully expect them to be up there again for obvious reasons – the way they’ve started and the players they’ve got. It’s a proper test, a proper challenge. It should be one they’re excited by.

“I’m excited by it, testing myself against an elite manager who has managed at the highest level. But it’s also the occasion, I know how good Easter Road can be. If we can start the game properly, play the way we want, affect the game positively, then the fans will get right behind us. It’s live on the TV, there’s no better way to right the wrongs of last week."