Gray on Belgrade repeat, being more clinical & injury latest

Hibernian head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face FK Shkendija in Conference League qualifying. Here are the main points: Gray admits the third qualifying round is "certainly a step up" from their aggregate win over Malisheva but he is confident "we're going in the right direction". This time last year Hibs overcame Partizan Belgrade at the same stage of the competition and Gray stresses "it's going to take a level of performance like that again" to overcome Shkendija. The Hibs boss wants "to have a real positive result at home" and stresses "if you can keep a clean sheet you're off to a very good start". After their defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, Gray admits his side "need to be more clinical" on Thursday night and insists "we're certainly working on that area". The Hibs manager is also looking for his side to be "a lot more robust" in certain defensive situations and minimise the defensive errors they made against Motherwell. He stresses that reaching the league phase is "the target" and admits "at this moment in time we're on course to do that but it's going to take two big performances". Gray is hopeful that in 10 days time "the squad will look very different" as he hopes to welcome Jamie McGrath, Callum Wright and Nicky Cadden back into the fold. Team news: Wright will be involved in the squad tomorrow but the game is too soon for McGrath and Cadden who have only partially trained. Martin Boyle and Joe Newell have small issues but could still be involved.