A sixth signing of the summer, Hibs have plumped for experience and nous in offering Junior Hoilett a one-year deal.

The 34-year-old Canadian internationalist spent the latter half of last season at Aberdeen, and proved a surprise hit at Pittodrie. Recruited by Neil Warnock during his short-lived stint in the north-east, there was an initial feeling that the veteran manager was doing a favour for a player he'd worked with previously.

However, once Hoilett got up to speed, his quality shone through. He registered two goals and nine assists in 15 appearances for Aberdeen and was instrumental in helping an unfancied Dons to within a whisker of beating Celtic in last season's Scottish Cup semi-final.

Hoilett left Pittodrie at the end of his short-term deal and subsequently moved onto David Gray's radar after he was appointed Hibs head coach. Here, we take a closer look at what fans can expect from him.

What does StatsBomb tell us?

In a word? 'Effective'. Nine assists is an impressive headline figure, and it's supplemented with good all-round attacking numbers. 

Hoilett was among the league's very best for the on-ball value (OBV) of his passing, meaning he consistently produced passes that increased his team's chances of scoring. Unsurprisingly, he also scored well above the league average for xG-assisted from open play, and was an effective ball carrier for his side. Only 10 Scottish Premiership appearances does make his sample size smaller than most, but there's no denying Hoilett posted impressive numbers during his short spell with the Dons. Where Gray may look for more is in his relatively low pressing stats, but given Hoilett's age, he's not a signing the head coach will have made with defensive intensity at the forefront of his mind.

What can he offer Hibs?

Given his vast experience in the game, it's no surprise to see a tangible intelligence in Hoilett's game. His longevity seems owed to an ability to adapt with age. He's no longer the buzz bomb winger who broke through for Blackburn Rovers and starred for Queen's Park Rangers, but there remains a knack for picking up good positions, making clever passes, and a threat in delivering set-pieces. The heatmap below shows that he primarily played off the left flank, but with license to roam, which is a sensible use of his skill set. His tendency to move in from the left would also allow Hibs to retain balance on that side of the pitch, given Jordan Obita's ability to overlap on the outside. 

Hoilett's lasting contribution at Aberdeen was delivering two inch-perfect crosses against Celtic at Hampden, suggesting he's still more than capable of punishing teams when given the time and space to pick out a delivery. He was also key in Aberdeen's 4-0 win at Easter Road at the end of last season, again providing two assists on the day.

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The first, though, neatly demonstrates his awareness of space, clever movement, and ability to make the right decision. In the example below, he initially makes a move towards the penalty spot as right-back Nicky Devlin enters the Hibs box, but the presence of Joe Newell on the cover means Hoilett knows he can't receive the pass. But instead of moving further towards the growing ruck of bodies in front of David Marshall's goal, he takes a few short steps away from goal, allowing Devlin to find him.

The immediate temptation would have been for Hoilett to shoot, but again with a mass of green and white shirts ahead of him, he takes his time before playing a nicely-weighted lay-off that allows Dante Polvara to strike first-time into the top corner. 

Hoilett's movement is key here, as taking a step in the opposite direction when all the Hibs players are rushing back towards their own goal affords him the space to receive and consider his options, while his presence on the ball in a dangerous position means no one is paying attention to Polvara until it's too late.

Hibs could also make use of Hoilett as a decent 'out-ball' option. He's not the tallest, but he's certainly strong, and his physicality is a likely factor in how quickly he adapted to the Scottish Premiership. There are numerous examples of Hoilett receiving on the left with his back to goal at Aberdeen, and having the strength to hold off a challenge before playing out the other side. The instance below, stands out, however, as a neat summary of how he can be utilised.

A long ball to the halfway line sees Hoilett under intense pressure from a Ross County defender, but he wins the physical battle and lays off for Graeme Shinnie, who fires a first-time pass to Ester Sokler.

Hoilett is first on his bike when the ball goes to Shinnie, making an unmatched run through the centre of the pitch. Sokler picks him out well, and a good first touch advances Hoilett into the box, before he picks the right option with a cutback for Jamie McGrath to score.

Clearly, Hoilett won't be a long-term option for Hibs, but if he can replicate his Aberdeen form across a full campaign in Scotland, he may well prove to be a sensible one.