Hibs could send another three players out on loan this month as the Easter Road side eyes regular game time for the individuals as well as creating room in the budget for new arrivals.

Libyan-born attacker Malek Zaid, who has just completed a short loan spell with Lowland League side Civil Service Strollers, joined Edinburgh City on a temporary basis until the end of the season, and Hibs still have several players out on loan at other SPFL clubs as well as further afield in England and Belgium.  

But despite a threadbare senior squad resulting in five teenagers being named on the bench for Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Motherwell, Hibs feel loan moves this month for Max Boruc, Allan Delferrière, and Riley Harbottle would be beneficial for the trio. There is already interest in Harbottle from clubs in England and with the former Nottingham Forest youngster not featuring at all under Nick Montgomery, Hibs are open to him departing this month.

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Delferrière has featured just twice under Montgomery, with another 12 games as an unused substitute. The 21-year-old was handed a three-year deal in September not long after the new manager's arrival but is likely to head out on loan in what will be his second stint away from Hibs after a 15-game spell with Edinburgh City last season.

Boruc, signed in the summer after a successful trial spell last season, is also likely to head out on loan for first-team football. He last featured under Montgomery as a second-half injury replacement for David Marshall during the 2-2 draw with Hearts in early October, and that was his last first-team involvement with Jojo Wollacott returning to the bench for all but one match since after recovering from a thigh problem picked up during the Europa Conference League second-round tie with Inter Club d'Escaldes. 

Murray Johnson, somewhat surprisingly, returned to the bench on January 2 with Wollacott away with Ghana ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations and Boruc not involved. However, with Hibs eyeing a loan arrangement for Boruc and Wollacott unavailable for as long as the Black Stars are involved in the AFCON, Johnson is set to play back-up to Marshall for the foreseeable - as he did during the second half of last season. The Scotland Under-19 cap joined Queen of the South on a season-long loan deal in July but was hastily recalled after just one appearance for the Doonhamers -a clean sheet in a 2-0 League Cup group win against Elgin City - following injury to Marshall and Wollacott and isn't going anywhere for the foreseeable at least.

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Montgomery has spoken of his desire to bring in players who can hit the ground running - essentially, players ready for the first team who won't block the pathway for the likes of Josh Landers, Rudi Molotnikov, and Rory Whittaker, who have all had game time under the former Central Coast Mariners boss. Leeds United defender Kris Moore is one name who has been mentioned, and the 20-year-old has visited HTC, but there is nothing imminent on that front. Manchester United are happy with Will Fish's progress and barring anything unexpected, the centre-back will see out the season in green and white, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see defensive reinforcements brought in, particularly with Harbottle likely to leave.