Hibs need their own Lawrence Shankland to finish third as striker return hasn't been good enough - Tam McManus

They say a 20-goal striker is worth their weight in gold – and for Hibs the lack of that sort of talisman is what cost them bronze last season.

Unfortunately for my old club they’ve not had a 20-goal hitman – in league terms at least – since Leigh Griffiths came back on loan from Wolves 11 seasons ago. Take away three years in the Championship and nobody in a Hibees shirt has even hit 15 top flight goals in a campaign in that time. That’s an astonishing stat.

Now Sparky had the midas touch in front of goal just like the best finisher I ever played with at Easter Road, Derek Riordan, and finding that kind of goal machine is not easy. But Hibs' main rivals have had it in the last year or two. And that’s been the difference. I’ve no doubt the 24 league goals Lawrence Shankland contributed among his 28 was the reason Hearts pipped Hibs to fourth place.

Aberdeen might not have had a 20-goal striker but Duk and Bojan Miovski both hit 16 in the Premiership as the Dons grabbed best of the rest spot. At the other end of the table, where would Motherwell have been without Kevin van Veen’s sensational 25 league strikes?

Hibs spread the load which is good. But if they had a 20-goal hitman on top of that it would probably be the difference between finishing third or fifth. They were massively hindered by the injury to Kevin Nisbet. His 12 goals in 19 league games after returning from the ACL tear suggests he would’ve been the man. But Nizzy is history now and leaves a huge void.

This is where Lee Johnson’s contacts will be tested as he scours the market. More to the point it’s where Brian McDermott’s influence will hopefully shine through.

They’ve done decent business elsewhere in the squad. Strengthening the goalkeeping