Hibernian’s last‑minute gamble on veteran centre‑back Grant Hanley in the 2‑1 defeat to Celtic at Easter Road has raised doubts about the club’s attacking options under new head coach Marink Reedijk. With eight minutes remaining, Reedijk pulled Hanley from the bench and instructed him to play as a makeshift striker, a move that highlighted the scarcity of forwards in the squad and the manager’s frustration after two early losses in his first two games.
Hanley, who has spent most of his career as a defender, managed to create a few chances in his brief cameo. He headed a ball that set up a shot for Josh Mulligan and was close to capitalising on a deflected effort from Rabbi Matondo, but he failed to find the net. If he had scored or assisted, Reedijk would have been praised for a bold tactical shift; instead the team could not overturn the deficit and remained at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
Reedijk explained that the substitution was intended to “inject chaos” into a game where Celtic had been playing out their advantage. “We were struggling to get momentum, so I wanted to change something,” he said. “I think it worked in that Hanley was a handful for the defenders and they didn’t know what to do about him.” The former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan, however, viewed the decision as a sign of deeper problems. “The biggest surprise was the impact Grant Hanley had up front,” he said. “That would be a concern for any Hibs fan because that’s probably the impact they were looking for from Ante Suto.” Allan added that the team’s lack of quality in attack was evident and that the club needs to improve rather than rely on “a bit of chaos” to win games.
Suto, who came on 15 minutes before Hanley, failed to make an impact, and the two strikers normally suited to lead the line – Nathan Lowe and Owen Elding – were unavailable or ineffective. Martin Boyle was ruled out on the day of the match due to illness, leaving the squad with a thin attacking lineup that also includes record signing Thibault Klidje.
The episode has amplified criticism from Hibs supporters towards sporting director Malky Mackay and the recruitment strategy under his tenure. With the club still at the foot of the table, Reedijk’s limited options and the lack of visible improvement since taking over from David Gray have become a major concern. When asked if he had seen any change in the team’s style of play, Allan replied, “No. We’ve heard a lot of talk about it, but I haven’t really seen it. Moving forward, Hibs have to start winning games of football.”
Reedijk remains determined to turn the season around, but the reliance on a defender‑turned‑striker in a crucial match underscores the urgency for Hibernian to bolster their forward line and establish a clearer tactical identity.