GRAY EXPECTS KAMBERI TO DELIVER MORE SWISS BLISS

IF Hibernian are going to be involved in any more tennis scores this season, then a man from Roger Federer country is sure to emerge as a vital performer for Neil Lennon’s entertainers.

Swiss striker Florian Kamberi, hat-trick scorer in a 6-1 Europa League win last month before a wild 6-4 away success at NSI Runavik, is tipped to enjoy a huge year since making a permanent move.

The 23-year-old was outstanding in a loan spell from Grasshoppers last season, netting nine times in 14 appearances and only sampling defeat once when in the side.

Easter Road captain David Gray endured six months on the sidelines with an Achilles complaint but watching Hibs storm into fourth place with Kamberi and Jamie Maclaren up top partly soothed his pain.

Maclaren has returned on loan after Lennon fended off competition for the Darmstadt striker before the transfer deadline. However, key man Kamberi has already penned a three-year deal and Gray believes he’s a nightmare opponent for rival defences.

‘Flo made a real difference when he came in, he was fantastic for us from the start and he has hit the ground running this season as well,’ said Gray.

‘His signing was a big boost, his decision to come back shows he really enjoyed his time with us. He enjoyed his time in Edinburgh as well, liked living where he lived. He was pleased at the move. ‘He’s real good boy as well, works hard and really looks after himself. He gave us something we were maybe lacking before Christmas. ‘He scored goals and, of course, when you’re a striker that is what you get judged on. But he is all effort as well. He holds it up well because he is a big, strong, powerful boy. ‘At the same time, he puts in a shift, he can really get on the move and stretch defenders because he gets in behind, too. So if you are up against him you don’t think he’s only going to hold it up, he might run in behind you. ‘He had the freedom to play and he was scoring goals at will, which was great.

‘We’ve added Stevie Mallan, who is technically great. His free-kicks are obviously fantastic but the range of passing and shots outside the box will also be a real asset.’

Kamberi (right) surprisingly failed to find the net in the Faroe Islands when Hibs hit six but Gray (left) did — then followed up with a cracking finish in the home leg against Asteras Tripolis.

Throw in their post-split games last season, including the crazy draw against Rangers on the final day, and Hibs have scored 29 goals in their last nine competitive fixtures.

Even after the mayhem of his 2016 Scottish Cup final winner over Rangers at Hampden, Gray admits life at Hibs continues to have the power to bewitch and bewilder.

‘That was the strangest game of football I have been involved in,’ he said of the Faroes outing.

‘The most important thing was to get through the tie and we did that.

‘And the 5-5 against Rangers that we finished up last season with was obviously an entertaining game. I enjoyed watching that one myself, to be honest.

‘It is not very often you sit on the bench and enjoy watching a game, but I certainly enjoyed that one: it was great.

‘This team is scoring lots of goals. I think the fans have been enjoying it. Neutrals have been enjoying it.’