Scott Brown reckons Nick Montgomery will target a new striker in the January transfer window to allow Martin Boyle to return to his natural habitat out wide.

The Hibs boss has relied on the Socceroo as a second striker alongside Dylan Vente in recent weeks as Adam Le Fondre and Christian Doidge struggled with injury. Elias Melkersen will return from his loan deal at Stromgodset in the new year, but former Hibees hero Brown, who has been impressed with the start Montgomery has made to life in Leith, expects the boss to target another number nine in his first window.

He said: “I think he’ll look for another striker. He’s relied a lot on Boyle having to go up and play as a forward. Boyle’s best position is out wide, running at people, creating chances, getting in at the back stick. So I think he’ll be looking to get another striker in.

“Possibly he might need another midfielder and a defender, as well. Because I know Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson aren’t getting any younger. They’ve been fantastic for the club over the years and he’ll want competition for them. Everyone needs that little bit of time and those windows to bring your own players in.”

Brown played alongside Montgomery for a Hibs XI in David Gray’s testimonial recently. And he has been well impressed with the transformation in style under the former Central Coast Mariners manager.

He ld the Edinburgh Evening News: “I’m sure Nick will do a fantastic job at Hibs this season. He wants to play the right way. He wants to play proper football but can also mix it up as well. He’s already put his own philosophy in place, getting the lads to play the way he wants them to play, and they seem to be reacting to that.”