Hibs Under 19s: What's next for talented crop, urgent contract situations, the big prospect

Hibs Under-19s have caught the eye and the imagination of the club’s fanbase, with nearly 8000 supporters turning out to watch them on Tuesday night in their UEFA Youth League defeat by Borussia Dortmund.

Previous winners against Molde of Norway and French outfit Nantes, the match against the German giants was a step too far. Despite taking the lead through Jacob Blaney’s first-half header, Mike Tullberg’s Dortmund team fought back in the second half. However, while bitterly disappointed with the result, the overriding emotion speaking to manager Steve Kean and the players was one of pride and a determination to make the step up into the first team.

Some of the team have already made their full debuts for Hibs. Defenders Oscar MacIntyre and Blaney and midfielders Robbie Hamilton and Murray Aiken played part of the second half in last season’s final Premiership match against St Johnstone, while Josh O’Connor has appeared in two of Hibs’ past three games. There has been a conscious decision from within Easter Road to give these players an easier pathway into the first team, with the culling of several senior benchwarmers last month allowing the kids to be in the squad.

On Tuesday’s evidence, Hibs have a pretty promising crop at this age. Some of the key players are out of contract at the end of the season – O’Connor, Blaney, Hamilton, Aiken plus forward Ethan Laidlaw, midfielder Scott McCulloch and defender Kanayo Megwa. Hibs are in discussions with all of them about extending their stay beyond this summer and while confidence is reasonably high about tying down the majority, some are expected to leave. Laidlaw, the stand-out player against Dortmund, is being heavily monitored by clubs in England and he is the most likely to depart. He would be a loss given his athleticism and technical ability.

The Hibs Under-19s team pose for a photo ahead of facing Borussia Dortmund.

All of the out-of-contract players impressed. Not only did Blaney score, but he kept Julian Rijkhoff – perhaps unfairly dubbed Dortmund’s next Erling Haaland – pretty quiet, while fellow defender Megwa was solid on the right. Aiken plays a holding midfield role and as captain of the team, his influence and positional sense was sorely missed when he came off injured just before the equaliser. Hamilton’s delivery for the opening goal was excellent. The son of much-travelled former Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hearts striker Jim, he looks a skilful player. McCulloch came on as a sub and is more of an enforcer, while O’Connor has already done enough to be a fixture in first-team manager Lee Johnson’s matchday squads.

Hibs can take heart, though, that both MacIntyre brothers – Oscar and Jacob – are under contract. Wing-backs by trade, there are high hopes for them. Owen Hastie, Blaney’s central defensive partner and midfielder Malik Zaid are also tied down from the starting XI. Perhaps the hottest prospect is goalkeeper Murray Johnson, even if he did spill a shot that led to the leveller. That was an uncharacteristic error. A good communicator, kicker and strong under high balls, he is now the understudy to David Marshall and had a loan spell at Airdrieonians at the start of the season, keeping three clean sheets in five matches. Scotland Under-19s’ No 1, he is a prospect, hence why Manchester City and Brighton have given him trials.

If Hibs can get the guts of this crop tied down, then their fans can expect to see them more regularly in 2023. Most are not a million miles away from the first team, and the performance against Dortmund merely strengthened their case.