Hibs players start pre-season training
David Gray's squad reported into East Mains for testing with the Club's strength and conditioning, and medical departments.
Tests included important health and fitness monitoring, as well as gruelling sprints sessions outside on HTC's artificial surface.
The Club's new Joma training wear was on show for the first time at HTC, detailing the new 'HFC' on the chest.
The international stars will be back at East Mains a week later than the rest of the squad, including Kieron Bowie, Martin Boyle, Jack Iredale, Alasana Manneh, Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Jordan Obita.
The rest of the players will continue their pre-season training in East Lothian before heading out to the Netherlands for a week's camp, further details on the training camp will be confirmed in due course.
Competitive action starts for David Gray's men in late July when we enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.
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Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Scotsman
Cross or shot? Hibs Euro goal hero reveals all about wonder strike
Second qualifying round tie finely balanced at 1-1 ahead of Easter Road return leg Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs Europa League goal hero Jamie McGrath insists he was DEFINITELY aiming for goal with his wonder free-kick that earned David Gray's men a battling 1-1 draw away to Midtjylland. And the Irishman has warned his team-mates that their European fates can turn in the blink of an eye, as they prepare to welcome the dangerous Danes to Easter Road for the second leg next week. McGrath's early opener caught Midtjylland keeper Jonas Lossl napping, the veteran goalie left out of position and unable to prevent the attacking midfielder's delivery – from way, way out on the left wing – swinging in and over the line at the near post. The home side at the MCH Arena equalised with a late free-kick of their own, with the help of a minor deflection. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Keeper caught out by audacious effort McGrath, part of the Aberdeen team who saw a 2-2 away draw with BK Hacken blown away by a 3-1 home loss to the Swedes at precisely this stage of Europa League qualifying two seasons ago, laughed in response to gaffer Gray joking that his strike on goal had been intended as a cross, saying: 'Me and Jordan Obita stood over the ball, and we just had a brief chat. We kind of spotted the keeper cheating a little bit. 'I was like: 'Yes, I'll whip it in to the near post.' Worst case scenario, keeper catches it, but best case, we obviously scored.' David Gray's men seek improvement in return leg Insisting that Hibs will have to up their performance levels to progress to the third qualifying round at Midtjylland's expense with a home win next Thursday night, McGrath said: 'Yes, of course. It's only halfway, both teams feeling each other out as well. 'It's going to be a completely different game next week as well. We know that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We can't get too high or too low. We have to address it the same way as we addressed it this week. 'But we have that little edge with the home fans on our side next week. A quick mention to the travelling fans, they were unbelievable. 'We sensed it on the drive to the stadium; you see them all outside the window. They got here early, and that buzz in the warm-up kind of spurred us on as well. 'We know they spent a lot of money and time coming over here. It was nice to give them a bit of a result to go back to Scotland next week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Early alarm call from travelling Hibs fans 'Yeah, there were a few in the hotel waking us up! You could hear them outside the window all day. 'I don't know if there's much to do around here, but they've been brilliant. Hopefully they'll have a good night tonight and get back safe tomorrow. 'Like I said, Easter Road will be jammed next week. I'm really looking forward to it now.' Aberdeen experience shows danger of Euro foes Referencing his own experience with the Dons against Hacken, McGrath cautioned: 'That's the thing, Europe can change in the flick of a switch. We know we have to address it like we have done this week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We know in Europe if you switch off for a minute you get punished. We're going to have to be on our A game next week to give ourselves a chance to get through. 'But I think overall we defended the box really well. We kind of limited them to a moment of magic that obviously equalised the game. 'I think if we were a little bit tidier on transitions, we could have maybe capitalised on that a bit better, especially in the second half. Martin Boyle was very close to being onside as well. I didn't see it back, but he obviously was offside if VAR gave it. 'But, of course there's positives to be taken from the first leg. We're going back to a home game next week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think that's what we aim to do, is bring it back there. But it's only halfway, we can't get too excited.' As a dead-ball expert himself, you might imagine McGrath to have recognised a fellow connoisseur in Midtjylland scorer Amil Simir. Maybe in time, he'll find something to admire about the opponent's equaliser … 'No, I never admire it,' he said with a grin. 'You're just thinking: 'Oh no!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There wasn't much we could have done about it. Maybe foul the player a bit earlier in that attack. It's always when you look back, you can change different things. 'The pleasing thing was how we defended the box. From the front, I thought we defended really well. The two boys up top worked their socks off and the boys that came in as well carried on the trend. 'I think probably a draw was a fair result. But yeah, they're used to being in the Champions League - so we probably would take a draw going into next week.' McGrath, whose last European goal was a free-kick against PAOK for Aberdeen just under two years ago, had joked on the eve of the Midtjylland game that he needed to contribute something in Denmark – if only to counter the good-natured stick he's taken from team-mates since joining Hibs. Having signed a pre-contract agreement midway through last season, McGrath was then part of the Dons squad who pulled off a shock Scottish Cup win over Celtic – 'stealing' the guaranteed European group stage football prize that would otherwise have gone to Hibs, as third-placed finishers in the Scottish Premiership. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I had to make it up to them some way!' said the former St Mirren star. 'It was obviously a nice start, nice to get my first competitive goal.' 'Yes, my last goal in Europe was a free kick as well. It is a nice trend. Hopefully we get a free kick next week! 'It's obviously nice to help the boys out. Like I said, we started the game brilliantly. 'From the kick-off, we looked threatening. I think they took over a bit towards the end of the first half, but we defended our box brilliantly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The boys at the back were immense. Smudger (Jordan Smith) in goal as well, he was brilliant all night coming for crosses. 'He tie is still alive. We'll bring it back next week and give ourselves a chance.'
Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Marcus Rashford back with ex-fiancee Lucia Loi two years after split as childhood sweetheart joins him in Barcelona
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MARCUS Rashford has rekindled his relationship with former fiancée Lucia Loi — and she was with him when he signed for FC Barcelona, The Sun can reveal. The Three Lions ace, 27, and childhood sweetheart Lucia, 26, were together during a photoshoot before he was unveiled as the Catalan giants' latest signing at the Camp Nou stadium. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Marcus Rashford being unveiled as Barcelona's latest signing at the Camp Nou stadium Credit: Getty 7 The footie ace has rekindled his relationship with former fiancée Lucia Loi Credit: Getty 7 Rashford had proposed to Lucia after a romantic meal at celebrity restaurant Catch LA in 2022 She took his photo, then moved behind him to take another and seemingly checked his shirt before the Man United exile posed beside a traditional red British phone box. Rashford was later seen emerging from the kiosk in a post on FC Barcelona's social media, captioned: 'Hello? Barca? For sure, I'm coming.' The striker has signed a year-long deal with Barcelona, who have an option to buy him next summer for around £26million. Old Trafford boss Ruben Amorim has made it clear he will not play for United while he is in charge. Rashford has been given the No14 shirt previously worn by big names including Johan Cruyff, Thierry Henry and Ronald Koeman. The Sun understands that Rashford has asked calming influence Lucia, who works in PR, to help him settle in to life in Spain so he can focus on his football. But they were not seen together until they were unwittingly snapped preparing for his phone box stunt. A source said the pair have stayed close, despite their 2022 engagement fizzling out, and have grown close again of late. They added: 'Marcus knows that some of the best moments in his career have occurred when Lucia has been at his side. 'They got together when they were very young and have had ups and downs, but a friendship has always remained. Barcelona announce loan signing of Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford 'He knows that she is good for him and she is one of the few people in the world he knows has got his best interests at heart. She is very sensible and helps keep him grounded.' Rashford said of his move: 'I'm very excited. It's a club where dreams come true. 'It feels like I'm at home and it's a big factor in my choice to come here. It's a family club and people are comfortable here.' Rashford, who flew out yesterday with his new teammates for his new club's Far East pre-season tour, and Lucia have been friends for at least a decade. They met at Ashton on Mersey School in Manchester where both were pupils. He was sent there as a teenage United academy player. They were dating when he made his first team debut in February 2016 in a UEFA Europa League match against FC Midtjylland. 7 Lucia takes snap of her man during photoshoot at the Camp Nou Credit: x 7 Lucia lends Marcus a hand by checking his shirt 7 Rashford during Barca's phone box stunt Credit: Facebook. He scored twice in the 5-1 victory at Old Trafford. They split in 2021 after Covid put a strain on their relationship but reconciled the following year. In February 2022, they were seen at the world premiere of Amazon Prime documentary 'Rooney' at HOME cinema in Manchester. Three months later, he proposed to Lucia after a romantic meal at celebrity restaurant Catch LA in West Hollywood, California. He got down on one knee and handed her a £250,000 engagement ring, posting a picture on Instagram of them kissing. Behind them was a large heart made from white flowers. Beneath the picture was the date and a love heart emoji. Lucia, who graduated with first class honours in Advertising and Brand Management, was a regular in the stands at Old Trafford. But in June 2023, sources said Rashford and the former Manchester Metropolitan University student had split after he was seen with a model outside a hotel in Miami. 7 Sources said Rashford and Lucia had split in June 2023 Credit: Getty She was later identified as personal trainer Courtney Caldwell. In November 2023, Rashford and Lucia were seen having dinner at a restaurant in Manchester. He was briefly linked to model and former Love Island contestant Grace Jackson last year, but the relationship ended in December. Back in Spain, meanwhile, Rashford is expected to be on 15 per cent less than the £315,000-a-week he was paid at Man United. He spent the second half of last season at Aston Villa after Amorim made it plain he would not be part of his plans for United's future. Barcelona almost signed Rashford in January, a move the star said he wanted to go through. After the deal was finally signed on Wednesday, club president Joan Laporta said: 'We are very happy because a player of great quality is coming, at a great age. 'We have him as strong as a rock. He came in very motivated.'
Edinburgh Reporter
a day ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
David Gray 'proud' of his players after hard-fought draw in Denmark
David Gray was proud of his players' effort after Hibs secured a hard-fought draw in Denmark meaning it is all to play for ahead of the second leg next week in Leith. Jamie McGrath opened the scoring with a direct free-kick on his competitive debut for the Club – before Aral Simsir equalised with a set-piece of his own in the second half. Reflecting on the 90 minutes as a whole, Gray admitted he was proud of the way his players approached the game and handled the occasion. 'It was exactly that – a hard-fought draw'. Gray told Hibs TV. 'First of all, I am proud of the players for their efforts and the overall performance. The first twenty minutes were brilliant, I know we got the goal, but I was really impressed with how brave we were on the ball and the discipline we showed off it. 'The one thing I said to the players when we arrived was 'you need to believe that you can get a result'. We did that tonight, the first part is done and we need to take confidence from that. 'After the game, I reminded the players that this is only part one – it is only half time in the tie, but we've given ourselves a chance –the tie is still alive and we need to keep believing.' After a robust pre-season schedule, the match was Hibs first competitive game of the 2025/26 campaign, and Gray explained how pre-season helped set them up for this fixture. 'Pre-season is always geared up to setting yourself up for the competitive stuff. We played some tough opposition, the likes of Ajax and Bournemouth and that was all geared towards preparing the players to play against elite-level teams. 'Midtjylland are at that level – they have played in the Champions League and are regularly playing in Europe – so we knew it was going to be a tough test. But the shape, the discipline and concentration all had to be there today, and we got our rewards for that. 'We were brave from the start and got right at them straight away.' Gray reserved special praise for the travelling fans who made the trip over to Denmark, and explained how much their passion, singing and noise helped spur the players on. 'I always knew when the draw was made that the fans would look forward to this one. What we've done as players is give everyone a performance to be proud of. 'It is only half a job though from the players' point of view, but the fans understand how big a part they can play, and we will need them again next week. We will sell out the Stadium, it is another European tie to look forward to – it is a real tough task ahead of us but one that we are up for. 'We are all in this together, win-lose or draw, they are the ones that pay their money and stick with us. They were all here in their numbers, they played a massive part, and we could hear them all game and I am sure they will all look forward to the second leg.' Like this: Like Related
