Hibernian head coach David Gray is unlikely to have summer signing Junior Hoilett available for this weekend's Premier Sports Cup trip to face Celtic, while Dutch forward Dylan Vente could complete a loan move to PEC Zwolle in his homeland. 

The Capital club lost 2-0 to Brendan Rodgers' side on Scottish Premiership duty last weekend and travel to Glasgow on Sunday hoping to avenge the Easter Road defeat. Gray has been boosted by having another full week with his squad, including signings who arrived in the days leading up to last weekend. 

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"Looking at the squad, even the ones who have joined recently have had an extra week's training now, and the competition with new faces coming in raises the standard in training. That's something we've been crying out for and I'm delighted to be able to do that," he said. 

Kwon 'will improve the group'

Kwon Hyeok-kyu joined on a season-long loan deal from Celtic, and while he is ineligible to face his parent club on Sunday, Gray believes the South Korean under-23 cap can be a good addition to the Hibs midfield. 

"We've seen straightaway in the last couple of days on the grass that he's got really good quality, technical ability, and he's physical as well. He's a good athlete, covers the ground well, and I was really impressed by him when he went on loan to St Mirren. I spoke to a number of people about him and got a lot of good references and I've seen why. I'm delighted we've brought him in and with how he's started," the Easter Road boss continued. 

"Kwon can't play at the weekend but what he does is make us better as a team and as a group, and his character is what we're looking for. We were able to do our homework on that, we saw him playing in the league last season and he was excellent against us, so that's all part of it. Ideally, we'd like our own players, but you don't always have the option for that. With Kwon, there was an opportunity to bring him in and we're delighted to have him here."

Vente nearing a temporary exit?

Gray remained coy over Vente, who is understood to have travelled to the Netherlands with a view to undergoing a medical ahead of agreeing a season-long loan move to Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle, who are based in Overijssel in the north-east of the Netherlands. 

"There's been a little bit of interest there, but at the moment Dylan is still very much a Hibs player. It's great to have the strength in depth and competition for places, and it was great to be able to bring players off the bench at the weekend albeit they're not all up to speed yet but you can see that. At this moment in time I'm really happy with where we are," Gray said. 

"It's too early to know what's going to happen and while he's still a Hibs player I'll continue trying to get the best out of him every single day, That's something I'll continue to do unless the situation changes," he added. 

Youan still working his way back to fitness

Sunday will come too soon for French attacker Élie Youan, who is still working his way back to fitness after sustaining an injury during the 5-1 Premier Sports Cup group victory over Queen's Park at Easter Road. He has also been linked with a departure but Gray insisted the former St. Gallen forward's full focus is on being available for Hibs. 

"Élie is in a similar boat to Dylan in that there's speculation, and that speculation has been there for a long time. I understand why it's there, because of the level of ability he has and his numbers from last season, but right now his full focus is on trying to get fit," Gray explained.

"He's getting better all the time; he's back on the grass, he's moving well, and we're happy with where that one's heading at the minute. The only focus on him is getting him back fit as quickly and as safely as possible."

Hoilett unavailable 

Gray might have to ask 18-year-old Rudi Molotnikov to continue his unfamiliar role on the left flank, with winger Hoilett also working his way back to full fitness after an injury that ruled him out of competing for Canada in this summer's Copa América. 

"Junior still isn't quite ready yet either, but he's on the grass and improving every single day as well," Gray revealed. 

More comings and goings?

The Hibs boss is also prepared for further arrivals and exits before the transfer window closes, but stressed that it's not always easy moving players on and bringing in prime targets.

"There has to be an understanding that everyone is in a different situation," he said.

"There needs to be another party involved who wants to take the player and the player needs to want to move as well; it's not as straightforward as, 'We want you to leave so off you go'. While they are still in the building it's my job to try to get the best out of them and everybody here.

"As we get towards the end of the window, naturally things will start to move because some managers might not get their number-one target and maybe not even their second, third, or fourth-choice target so I'm fully expecting things to still move, ins and outs, before the end of the window."