Hibs boss speaks on Adryan and Moore and Servette friendly

The Swiss side ran out 5-1 winners but the Easter Road head coach revealed another planned training match had been cancelled - because Hibs didn't have enough players to do so.

Speaking from the team's base in Jebel Ali, Montgomery gave an update on the training camp as well as those players who are coming back from injury.

“It’s been a good opportunity to get back into training. It’s important that some of the boys coming back from injuries get back into team training: Adam Le Fondre, Harry McKirdy, Chris Cadden, and Jake Doyle-Hayes have been in and out of the sessions so it’s been a good exercise to get the group going again. We’ve got boys away on international duty so it’s an opportunity to bring in younger lads like Kanayo Megwa, Rory Whittaker, Josh Landers as well and we’re also having a look at a few boys on trial," he told Hibs TV. 

“The game was a competitive training game, under fatigue, and a chance to see where some players are after the break, and those coming back from injury. Harry probably shouldn't have been involved against Motherwell but we're really low on bodies right now. We were due to play two games over here but we didn't have enough players to do so."

Friday's friendly saw two different teams take to the pitch for Hibs, with every available player  getting a chance to feature, including Moore - who was tried out at right-back - and the 29-year-old Adryan. 

“Kris Moore, the young defender from Leeds, we’re having a look at him. I didn’t think we had enough bodies to come on the camp, so it was a good opportunity to have a look at him at right-back with Lewis Miller away and only really having young Rory otherwise, so it was good for him, and Kanayo, to get some minutes," Montgomery explained. 

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“Adryan is a Brazilian player who’s been out of the game for the last couple of months due to a family situation but he’s been training in Dubai and we thought it would be a good chance for him to train with us so we could have a look at him."

The players have been subjected to double sessions, with Montgomery treating the training camp as a 'mini pre-season'. 

“What we wanted to do is push the lads and put some real work into them because when we get back, we’ve got a few days before the cup game then we’ve got a really heavy schedule. Probably the most important thing is to get some of the boys coming back for injury integrated back into the squad. That doesn’t mean they’re fit for selection but to get them back into some sort of team training is really important for their rehab and it gives the young boys a chance to train at the next level and we can keep looking at them too."

The Hibs boss admitted it had been heartening to see Cadden 'having a laugh' and taking part in team training sessions. The versatile defender/midfielder has been sidelined since the end of last season after suffering an Achilles injury during the last game of the campaign. 

“When you’ve had a long-term injury there’s a lot of mental anguish and anxiety. You can train on your own for as long as you want but that feeling of being back in with your team-mates when you’ve been sat watching them is really hard - I’ve been there myself as a player," he said.

"Cadds has worked really hard, he’s come in and been around the boys but to see him back out there now, having a laugh and in the team training sessions - albeit we’re monitoring how he’s getting on - has been really good.

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"It’s a huge thing for confidence; it’s the same with Harry given what he’s coming back from. When you’re out long-term, it can be really lonely and you can feel like you’re never going to be back fit with the boys.

“Adam Le Fondre has been in and out, mostly doing the non-contact stuff. He had a pretty serious injury that’s kept him out for the last two months. To see them back in with the team is great because it’s so important that we try to get as many back as possible going into the second half of the season."

With the transfer window already 12 days old, some fans may be getting restless given the lack of new arrivals - but Montgomery has again insisted that any player who comes in has to be ready to contribute from the word 'go'. 

“I’ve been working really hard with Brian [McDermott, director of football] and the recruitment staff; we are looking at possibilities of bringing one or two in to really help us. Budget has to allow us to bring in the right type of player and that’s something we’re working on daily," he continued. 

“What we can’t do is bring players in who won’t impact the team - they have to be ready to come in and contribute straight away . But there aren’t that many players out there, within our budget, who have been playing games, who we can get this month. There are players coming back from long-term injuries, players who haven’t played for the last six months for whatever reason, and there are young players who haven’t played senior football looking to get out on loan.

“It’s important that we continue to search the market. I’m speaking to agents, Brian’s speaking to agents, and we are constantly looking, with the staff, at every player who might be available but the picture changes daily. It’s important that we’re clinical and we try to bring in key players in the areas where we’re short.“