Hibernian head coach David Gray has admitted there are 'variables' that could influence his team selection for his side's Scottish Premiership meeting with Dundee United on Saturday.

The Easter Road boss was able to name the same starting XI for the previous two matches, a narrow 1-0 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox and a disappointing 2-1 home defeat by Motherwell. But the two-week international break gave Gray a chance to keep working hard with the players who weren't on international duty ahead of the resumption of domestic football.

Speaking to the media as he previewed Saturday's trip to the City of Discovery, Gray said: "The focus has been on the group that was still here and working hard on the areas we know we need to improve. In terms of getting bodies back on the grass and working together, it's been a successful two weeks."

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Gray will be bolstered by the availability of Martin Boyle and Joe Newell, who have both spent periods on the sidelines with a wrist injury and groin problem respectively. However, the head coach wouldn't be drawn on whether the pair will come straight back into the starting XI.

"Joe and Martin have trained throughout the whole period, which is great. It's exactly what was required; Joe got extra minutes in the bounce game [against St Johnstone] so they'll fall in line with the rest of the squad, which is available for selection, if required, at the weekend.

"They are available, they will be in the squad. But the game is 24 hours away and a lot of players have just come back. Some of them had their first training session today with having returned so late from international duty so there are a few variables within that, we need to see how they are, how they settle, how they recover, and make a decision from there."

Gray will be without the suspended midfielder Nectar Triantis following his sending-off against Motherwell, but Newell will likely take his place in the squad.