Hibs went down 3-2 to Watford in an entertaining final pre-season friendly of the summer.

The fixture, arranged as part of Ryan Porteous' transfer to the Hornets in 2023, saw the former  Easter Road favourite return to Edinburgh on a night that featured two very different Hibs XIs. Josh Campbell and Harry McKirdy scored in either half, but strikes from Imran Louza, Rocco Vata and Amin Nabizada gave Tom Cleverley's side a win on the night.

Gray changed almost his entire team at half-time, giving run-outs to a number of teenagers, including Rory Whittaker, Owen Calder, and Reuben McAllister.  Liam Bryce was in Leith to offer the instant analysis.

Two halves, two teams

It was made clear pre-match that Hibs would, almost, be fielding an entirely different XI in each half, to give minutes to players still finding full sharpness. Kanayo Megwa was the only starter to re-emerge for the second period, as Gray switched from something close to his first XI in the opening 45, to a very young and experimental line-up in the second. Hibs started well and were rewarded with a Campbell goal that squirmed under the body of goalkeeper Jonathan Bond after excellent work from Martin Boyle. Watford responded with two of their own from Louza and Vata, upping their intensity in response to going behind. Double figure substitutions didn't disrupt Hibs' rhythm too much, and it was a hard-working second-half display from a clutch of players keen to show Gray their worth.  McKirdy's goal levelled matters, before Nabizada struck the winner following a calamitous few moments for Riley Harbottle, fluffing a clearance then getting robbed near the sideline.

McKirdy looks bright

He certainly looks like he has a point to prove, does the Englishman. McKirdy was eased back into action with 45 minutes against Kelty at the weekend, and he was a bundle of energy from the moment he was introduced here. That endeavour, and his willingness to play on the shoulder of defenders, was rewarded with a goal. McKirdy anticipated where Porteous would attempt to head Dylan Levitt's dangerous dinked pass, then had the composure to round Bond and slot into an empty net. It got by far the biggest cheer of the evening, and underlined that there remains a significant level of goodwill towards the 26-year-old, who underwent surgery on a heart condition last year, and has barely kicked a ball since. As we're all too well aware, Hibs attacking options are alarmingly sparse, but if McKirdy can build on performances like this one in competitive games - namely being more consistent in possession - then he could have a part to play.

Porteous back in Leith

The centre-back, a boyhood Hibs fan and a product of the club's academy, remains very well thought of in this part of the world, and that was reflected by the warm welcome he received. This was only Porteous' second outing of pre-season, having been given a break following his, admittedly brief, Euro 2024 campaign with Scotland. Only the linesman's flag denied him an Easter Road goal on his homecoming. It'd be somewhat exaggerating to call it a bicycle kick and not one of those volleys where you're falling backwards, the type that could do with a snappier name of its own. Porteous wheeled away with a wry smile, but it looked to be the correct decision. He was eventually involved in a goal - McKirdy's - and that betrayed a bit of rust that he otherwise hid with a quiet display, usually an indicator that a centre-back has generally done his job.

Depth issues evident

The XI Gray started with would not be too far off being highly competitive at the right end of the Scottish Premiership, but it's what's waiting in the wings that causes concern. The bench has more than its fair share of academy hopefuls, who may welcome good in time, players who were deemed surplus to requirements under previous managers, and others for whom the jury remains out. Injuries are inevitable as a season kicks into gear, and, as things stand, Hibs are only a problem or two in key positions away from facing considerable issues. There's still over a month to go in the transfer window, of course, but the beginning of the league season is less than a fortnight away. Hibs have undergone significant changes behind the scenes, and everything about this phase of change and recovery will take time, but it doesn't change the quite urgent need to strengthen the squad.