David Gray demands ‘patience’ for record Hibernian signing Thibault Klidje

David Gray will continue to be “patient” with Thibault Klidje after Hibernian’s record signing marked a bright first start for the club with the opening goal in Sunday’s 2-0 win away to Livingston in the second round of the Premier Sports Cup.

The 24-year-old Togo forward was pitched in after being restricted to four substitute appearances since his seven-figure transfer from Swiss side Luzern earlier this summer.

Klidje capped what Gray described as an “excellent” performance by glancing home a 43rd-minute header before substitute Josh Mulligan’s stunning late strike secured victory and set up a quarter-final trip to Rangers next month.

“I’m delighted for Thibault getting his goal,” said the manager. “Bringing centre-forwards to your club, you want them to try and get off the mark as quickly as they can.

“We’ve been very patient with him and we’ll continue to be. I’m not going to rush him at all, and that doesn’t change on the back of a good performance today. He still needs to settle but that’ll do his confidence a world of good today.

“I thought with his energy, his work rate and running in behind, he was a constant threat. We know that’s what we’ll get out of him, but he’s still got improvement to come, he’s a young boy.”

Gray made six changes to his side in between Conference League matches against Partizan Belgrade and Legia Warsaw and was pleased to see his depth of squad highlighted with “a very professional performance”. The manager is relishing the last-eight trip to Rangers on the weekend of September 20.

“To win the trophy you need to try and beat the best teams and it’ll be a real tough test,” said Gray. “There’s a lot of football to be played between now and then but coming to this football club is an opportunity to try and win things and when that game comes around we’ll be looking forward to it.”

Livi boss David Martindale conceded the better team won, saying: “I don’t think we deserved to go through, Hibs deserved it.

“We lost a poor goal just before half-time but I don’t think there was much in the game until then.

“Hibs are flying and against top-six teams you get crucified, that’s what happens against the bigger clubs.

“Second half we changed shape and it helped us, we looked like we might get the next goal.

“But Mulligan came up with an incredible goal and then the game ran away from us.”