Hibs: Lee Johnson explains his '4-8-8-4' recruitment model - and where team needs more bodies

The Easter Road side has already brought in veteran goalkeeper David Marshall, and teenaged midfielder Nohan Kenneh but Johnson, speaking to fan podcasts Down The Slope, Hibs.net, Longbangers, and Strong Opinion Hibs, explained that there were players ‘of all ages’ on the club’s shopping list.

“Your recruitment will be the strength and weakness of you as a manager. So we've got to get it right, not just on a technical level but on a human level,” he said.

"We want good people coming through the door who add value to the squad, and to the team spirit. Sometimes that's harder for the younger lads but we need to create an environment where they can step up and bring that personality to the pitch and training ground every day.”

Johnson also expanded on his ‘4-8-8-4’ approach to recruitment and how he wants the core of his first-team squad to look.

"You need to mix experience and youth. The perfect blend for me is 4-8-8-4, so you have four players in the breakthrough category of 16 to 20-years-old; eight in the 20-25 age bracket – that's where your assets are; eight in their prime, 25-30, and then four in the twilight years of 30-35+.

"Getting that balance is really important. You need the seniors to be unbelievable human beings and winners, because they have to spread that through the club. I think David [Marshall] is a key personality in terms of that leading in the dressing room. He has a wealth of experience but he's still a very good goalkeeper. We can't just have great lads; we need them to be great players too.”

The Easter Road boss also revealed where he felt his team needed more bodies – and the main challenge facing the club’s recruitment staff.

"We're probably short in the prime area, and the problem with prime