Hibs aren't blessed with great squad depth but it would be a surprise if there weren't changes made to the team for Saturday's cinch Premiership clash with Ross County. But what alterations could Nick Montgomery make? Liam Bryce and Patrick McPartlin pick their teams and have their say...


Liam Bryce

You could make a convincing case for dropping any number of players after an insipid display at McDiarmid Park, but Nick Montgomery doesn’t have the squad depth to make wholesale changes.

It’s been a stop-start month for Lewis Miller, but he will likely retain his place despite being taken off with illness last week. Rocky Bushiri was brought on seemingly with instructions to step forward out of defence as Hibs chased an equaliser, and that could be needed to try and disrupt the hosts' shape.

The return of Joe Newell should restore a better balance in midfield, and I’d stick with Dylan Levitt despite his howler against St Johnstone. Ross County won’t be particularly adventurous, and Levitt offers more than Jimmy Jeggo in progressing Hibs forward.

Josh Campbell has found himself back on the bench of late, but I liked what he offered when he played off Dylan Vente, and in dovetailing with Martin Boyle on the right flank. In truth, it was a coin toss between Jair Tavares and Elie Youan for the final starting berth – neither covered themselves in glory last time out – but Montgomery does seem to prefer the Portuguese in that inside left role.

Team: Marshall; Miller, Fish, Rocky, Obita; Levitt, Newell, Jair, Boyle; Campbell, Vente.

Patrick McPartlin

It's the Montgomery way to make one or two changes from game to game and I think we'll certainly see Joe Newell back in from the start. One player doesn't make a team but I thought Hibs missed his presence in the middle of the park against St Johnstone. 

I'd also keep Jimmy Jeggo in there alongside him - nothing against Dylan Levitt, but I was impressed by how Jeggo and Newell linked up in the early days of Montgomery's tenure and with County likely to play five in midfield the Australian's scrapping capabilities could be useful, and I think Rocky Bushiri would be a good man to have in the back four assuming Jordan White retains his starting berth up top for the Staggies.

One of my main concerns from the game at McDiarmid Park was how toothless Hibs seemed in attack - Martin Boyle and Élie Youan were both on the periphery at best, and anonymous at times, and Jair Tavares didn't fare much better. I think Boyle needs to be out wide to have more of an impact, so I'd be tempted to bring Campbell in and have Youan as an option off the bench.

Aside from that the rest of the team probably picks itself. With County favouring a 3412 set-up following Derek Adams' return, Hibs can use their counter-attacking strength with Lewis Miller and Jordan Obita tasked with helping funnel the ball quickly down the flanks.

Team: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Rocky, Obita; Boyle, Jeggo, Newell, Tavares; Campbell, Vente.