Nick Montgomery pleased with Hibernian’s attacking options

Hibernian head coach Nick Montgomery is happy with the attacking options at his disposal after watching his team beat St Johnstone.

Full-back Lewis Miller opened the scoring in the first half with a close-range header from a Joe Newell cross before Dutch striker Dylan Vente added a second with an effort from inside the box.

The starting forward four of Vente, Adam Le Fondre, Martin Boyle and Jair Tavares were all given licence to roam and Montgomery believes his team will continue to cause teams problems under his stewardship.

Montgomery, who started with Christian Doidge on the bench after the striker sustained a nasty head knock against Kilmarnock a week earlier, said: “Dylan’s a top finisher – but if you look at Le Fondre’s assist, it was top class.

“Dylan’s finishing is very good and it’s two in two. Now he has to carry on.

“We’ve got options in the front area. I didn’t really want to use Doidgy with his stitches still in.

“The first aerial ball he challenged for I was cringing! He’ll be fresh for Wednesday against St Mirren.

“I always try to give the front players licence to do what they feel is right in the moment. It’s like a front four at times. If everybody understands, then we will play with that free-flowing football.

“The chances we created, there was unselfishness from the players too.”

Montgomery worked with right-back Miller during their time at Central Coast Mariners in Australia and insists the 23-year-old has what it takes to reach the top.

“He’s so powerful defending and attacking,” Montgomery added.

“He scored a goal like that for me before in Australia. He’s growing and no doubt will have a big career ahead of him. He has all the attributes to be a top-level full-back.”

Saints remain rooted to the cinch Premiership basement after struggling to create any clear-cut openings on Saturday.

But manager Steven MacLean hopes his injury problems will ease ahead of next weekend’s visit of Livingston after being without Liam Gordon and Chris Kane for the trip to Easter Road.

MacLean said: “Liam Gordon has a concussion, Chris Kane is injured. Chris picked up a knock on his quad on Wednesday and we thought he was going to be okay but he trained on Friday and felt it tighten.

“With all of the injuries he’s had, we didn’t want to take the risk to play.

“Hopefully I’ll have the two of them back for next week.

“Sometimes you need to make changes as we are still trying to find that formula and that best formation with the players we have got.

“There were some good things but ultimately if you defend like that and concede in the way we did, you don’t deserve to win games of football.”