Nick Montgomery pre-match press conference in full

Can you, or are you tempted to, rest players ahead of the semi-final?

“We always look at how players recover from game to game. Some can play a couple of games a week but if they have a knock you have to speak to the medical staff. I won’t make rushed decisions but it’s important to play as strong a team as you have available but also not to take risks on players who could possibly be lost for a while.

“We have younger players who are robust and it’s about everybody being fit and available then make decisions on what’s right for the team.”

WIN two tickets to the Viaplay Cup semi-final between Hibs and Aberdeen - click here to find out more

How's Martin Boyle doing?

“Boyley is okay. He always seems to get a few kicks every game but he has played a lot of football since he came back from the injury. There’s times I want to rest him but I can’t.

"It’s important we look after certain players that are coming back from long term injuries and he’s quite robust. It’s about managing him in training because he is 100 miles per hour all the time and sometimes you just have to drag him back and take him off so he’s not sprinting around in the set piece session because that’s his personality.

“It’s more about managing him in training than games because he does what he does and could have won the game for us against Celtic with that fantastic chance. He gets in those areas because he has god movement.”

Does the positivity from Saturday fuel a desire for regular results against the Old Firm?

“Coming up against the better teams is where your identity can be tested. I thought we stood strong at the weekend and played really well.

“We defended resolutely and had to, because they are a top team. It’s a work in progress. Of course you want to compete with the best teams but that takes time. What’s important is the team is developing and improving. You have ups and downs but what’s really key is that when you have the downs that you stick to the game plan and bounce back in the best way possible.

“We did that against Celtic and it’s another foundation we can build on going forward.”

Does it set the standard?

“I expect the same attitude and desire for every game no matter the opposition. I demand that from the players, they have given me that every game. The only one I was disappointed was the Rangers one because we gave away goals we should never have conceded.

“But that’s football. What’s non-negiotable is that you wear the Hibs shirt with pride and give 100 per cent every time you step on the pitch. I cannot question any of the attitudes or efforts from the boys. At times it’s just been a bit of inexperience.

“Even the senior boys are still learning and adapting because it’s a lot different to what they’re used to.”

Having now faced the two best teams in the league, what have you learned?

“I didn’t need to learn they are very good teams. They have top quality players. But a lesson for the boys was they have to concentrate for 90-95 minutes. Lapses in concentration at the highest level means the better teams will punish you. That’s something we rectified on Saturday and moving forward young Rory Whittaker, 16, is coming on at Ibrox and against Celtic and that’s valuable experience the young boys will take learning from.

"I’m learning every day about myself and the team. Constantly trying to improve with my staff that work non stop.”

Gap maybe not quite as big as people think?

“Financially we know that’s where the biggest budget is. The biggest thing for me was Celtic took off five players and put on five high quality replacements. That’s how they keep the intensity.

“But I’m trying to play with a higher intensity here and you have to play at that intensity for the full game against teams of that quality.

“It’s about us continuing to push the boundaries and standards every single day and keep driving each other and developing the players.

“If you think you can’t compete then you can’t but if you believe you can then I believe you can. It’s not easy and that’s why you need everybody buying into the gameplan week to week because it changes.”

How's Jair getting on?

"Well firstly, he didn't start against Celtic out of necessity; I started Jair because he deserved the opportunity. When I came in he'd been out in the cold for 14 months. I wasn't really interested in what had happened before, I gave everybody a clean slate. 

"Jair's a player who has a lot of talent but what he lacked was confidence and he hadn't played competitive football for a long time and trying to chase that isn't easy.

"The last time I started him, he tried to do everything in 45 minutes to prove that he should be in the first team and that probably set him back a little bit. 

"It was a case of him training, playing in bounce games, and getting more confidence and I thought he was absolutely outstanding at the weekend.

"If people knew his story and what had happened, he's had a real tough period in his career and one thing about him is that he never lost faith in himself, and it was just about him understanding how to be a team player and coming back into a disciplined team. He was very disciplined and gave me everything at the weekend and for me it was like getting a new player. 

"He's been here a while and he just has to keep working hard because I thought he was very good against Celtic."

Have you seen many players improve in the short time you've been here?

"I took over at the club knowing there were some good players here and that it was a good squad. My job as a coach is to improve everybody, young or old, and there's no point in me being a coach if I don't improve anybody.

"But you have to improve with the system that we play. They have to adapt; if you can't adapt you're never going to improve. They have all adapted, they've all bought into the style of play I want and the identity I want to bring to the club.

"By doing that in training and repeating it, you see it on the weekend. But I think they've all improved, and you have to keep improving continuously - it doesn't matter what age you are, you can always improve and develop."

How important has David Marshall been to your style of play?

"I think David is a fantastic goalkeeper, you only have to look at his career. I played with him in the Scotland Future squad many, meany years ago - twenty, probably! But he's a goalkeeper and they seem to get better with age.

"What he has got is a real calm influence on the team. He doesn't panic under pressure, he's not someone who listens to outside noise, and he's really important to the way we play. But what's impressed me is that at his age he's happy to adapt and completely change his game from what he was used to playing.

"For me, that's massive and a testament to him as a character and a person. He's been fantastic for me since I came in, he bought in straight away and I have a very good relationship with him. He's a massive influence on the squad, everybody loves him, and his performances since I came in have been very, very good. 

"I thought on the weekend he stayed calm when I needed him to stay calm, and he did. He's a credit to himself and I really enjoy having him in the squad."

He's out of contract in the summer...

"There are a number of players out of contract in the summer. Davie's had a fantastic career and no doubt towards the end of the season we will have those conversations but right now he's concentrating on his training, helping the young players, and helping me.

"It's not something we've had a discussion about and I doubt we will for a while."

Do you get the sense after Saturday the players can't wait to get going again?

"The players look forward to every training session and every game so yes, obviously coming off the back of a positive result they'll take that confidence into the next game.

"But we won't be complacent because Ross County are a good side, well organised, and they'll be coming to Easter Road looking for a result so we have to make sure we're prepared, confident, and making the most of being at home."

Did you cross paths with Malky Mackay in England?

"Yes; I think I played against him many years ago and then he went into coaching long before I did. He's a good guy, he's a good character, and very experienced as well. It will be nice to see him.

"He's well organised, he had success in England, and looking at his team they are well organised and have good energy.

"It's my job to concentrate on Hibs and hopefully we can get the result we're looking for."

Is Christian Doidge fit for Tuesday, having missed Saturday?

"I'm not sure; he's back in training a little bit so we'll assess him.  He felt a little tweak on the day of the game - nothing serious, but if a player isn't 100 per cent then we don't take any risks.

"There's a good chance he'll be involved against Ross County but if not we won't risk him, and we'll get him back after a full recovery."