Hibs' strongest starting XI isn't immediately obvious - but that might be no bad thing

Perhaps they will start a centre-forward on the wing, or a centre-back at right-back. Or in Joe Newell’s case, a central midfielder at left-back although one imagines it is unlikely to be a regular feature of the Hibs team this season.

But then again, what is? The first three Premier Sports Cup group games have told us little about this new-look Easter Road side for a variety of reasons: players unavailable as they await work permits, injuries to a quartet of players who were starters last season, lower-league opposition to name just three.

However, it may not be a bad thing that there isn’t an obvious starting-team-plus-subs selection from the current squad. Having 16 or 17 players pushing for 11 starting spots will ensure competition is healthy and that whoever is on the bench should be able to make an impact.

There were times last season, and to a lesser extent the campaign before – and again, it was often due to injuries – that Hibs didn’t have too many options among the substitutes.

Even with four players sidelined and another three awaiting completion of their paperwork, Hibs have greater depth in most areas of the pitch.

The glaringly obvious area needing reinforcements is central defence. Both full-back spots are covered – Chris Cadden and Lewis Miller at right-back, Marijan Čabraja, Demi Mitchell, and Lewis Stevenson at left-back – but even once Paul Hanlon returns from his spell out, there are only really three senior centre-back options: the club captain plus Rocky Bushiri and Ryan Porteous.

The latter’s contract situation is still unresolved, and Kyle McClelland, who was signed as a development-squad player, has appeared in all three of Hibs’ Premier Sports Cup group matches so far.

A centre-back is known