Adam Mayor Hibs stats reveal standout Premiership strength

The Hibs left-back ranks in the 91st percentile for the value generated through dribbling and carrying the ball, while his 5.94 deep progressions per 90 are comfortably above the league average of 4.42.

After only 756 Premiership minutes, the numbers are beginning to establish a clear picture of Mayor’s game. The 21-year-old is particularly effective at getting Hibs up the pitch, whether by travelling with the ball himself or finding a team-mate further forward.

His 12.74 progressive passes and 2.02 progressive carries per 90 reinforce that impression, placing Mayor towards the leading end of the division among full-backs who have played at least 300 minutes.

There are rougher edges, particularly with his final delivery and defending in the air, but Mayor already has a quality which stands out in the league and other competitions, given his display against Hearts at Hampden on Sunday.

Adam Mayor compared to the Scottish Premiership average for full-backs (Image: StatsBomb)

Why Mayor’s progress with the ball stands out

Mayor’s 12.74 progressive passes per 90 are among the strongest returns in the Premiership full-back comparison. Combined with 2.02 progressive carries and 0.83 accelerations with the ball, they show a player willing to advance possession in different ways.

That has been evident in matches. With Martin Boyle moving into more central positions from the left against Hearts, Mayor was able to attack the space outside him. He can also progress Hibs from deeper positions without having to make that run himself.

The StatsBomb data provides further evidence. Mayor’s dribble and carry value ranks in the 91st percentile and his passing value in the 75th.

There is clearly more to Mayor’s attacking game than just providing width. He can help Hibs beat pressure, carry into open ground and release players positioned further forward.

The next step is making those advances count more regularly.

How Mayor compares to 25/26 Cadden

Nicky Cadden’s numbers from last season provide useful context, although the change in Hibs’ system has to be considered along with the former Barnsley man's seriously impressive data.

Cadden spent much of 2025/26 operating as a wing-back outside three centre-backs. Mayor has increasingly been asked to perform more conventional full-back duties in a back four.

Both are progressive players, but their influence comes at different stages of an attack.

Cadden averaged 9.35 progressive passes and 2.07 progressive carries per 90 last season. Mayor is producing 12.74 and 2.02 respectively. Their carrying volume is almost identical, but Mayor progresses possession considerably more frequently through his passing.

Mayor’s 5.94 deep progressions per 90 also exceed Cadden’s 4.85, while his dribble and carry value is slightly higher at 0.12 compared with 0.10.

Adam Mayor's stats for 2026/27 so far compared to Nicky Cadden's season stats for 2025/26 (Image: StatsBomb)

Closer to goal, however, Cadden holds the advantage.

Cadden averaged 8.03 crosses per 90 and completed 37.74 per cent. Mayor is attempting 5.95 and completing 26 per cent.

There is an even clearer difference in chance creation. Cadden produced 0.30 expected assists per 90 against Mayor’s 0.11, while their respective figures for assists and secondary assists are 0.45 and 0.12. StatsBomb’s open-play measure reaches much the same conclusion, with Cadden at 0.24 expected assists per 90 and Mayor at 0.08.

Cadden was therefore particularly effective at the end of Hibs attacks. Mayor’s strongest contribution so far has come in the build-up.

Adam Mayor (26/27 so far) v Nicky Cadden (25/26) (Image: Wyscout / Ben Griffis)

The formation helps explain some of that difference. Three centre-backs allowed Cadden to occupy advanced positions as a wing-back with greater protection behind him. Mayor advancing from a back four leaves Hibs with a different calculation over how that space is covered.

There is a corresponding difference without the ball.

Mayor averages 9.17 defensive actions per 90 compared with Cadden’s 5.26, while his 6.12 possession-adjusted interceptions are ahead of Cadden’s 4.42. Mayor also wins 59.02 per cent of his defensive duels compared with Cadden’s 52.86 per cent.

Another measure has Mayor applying 10.27 pressures per 90 against Cadden’s 7.60.

That does not necessarily make Mayor a better defender. The two have operated in different structures with different responsibilities. It does suggest Hibs have exchanged some of Cadden’s final-third precision for a left-back more heavily involved in progression and defensive work.

Cadden was often the player at the end of Hibs’ progression. Mayor, so far, has been more involved in creating it.

The contrast also raises the possibility of Mayor and Cadden complementing each other rather than competing for the same position, as we saw recently against St Mirren.

Mayor’s ability to progress possession from deeper areas could allow Cadden to operate further forward on the left, where his crossing and chance creation have already proved effective for Hibs.

Equally, Cadden’s delivery could provide an end product to moves Mayor has helped start.

There would be defensive considerations in using two naturally attack-minded players on the same side, but their differing strengths offer Hibs an intriguing option rather than an obvious duplication.

Turning attacking positions into chances

That distinction does not remove the need for Mayor to improve once he reaches the final third.

His 5.95 crosses per 90 show he is getting into positions to deliver regularly. The issue is what happens next.

Mayor has completed only 26 per cent of those crosses.

Cross completion is an imperfect measure. The positioning of attackers, quality of opposition defending and difficulty of the delivery can all influence whether a cross finds a team-mate.

Even with that context, Mayor’s combination of high crossing volume and low completion is difficult to ignore.

The answer is not necessarily to cross less. Reaching those positions is one of Mayor’s strengths. Improvement can instead come through recognising when to deliver early, continue towards the byline, find a cut-back or retain possession rather than forcing a ball into a poorly occupied penalty area.

Mayor’s 0.11 expected assists per 90 suggest the attacking positions are producing something, but not yet at Cadden’s level.

If the quality and selection of his deliveries improve without reducing his willingness to attack, Hibs should have an increasingly dangerous outlet on that side.

The defensive weakness opponents may look to exploit

There is encouragement in Mayor’s defending on the ground.

His 59.02 per cent defensive-duel success rate is among the stronger returns in the comparison and accompanies a healthy volume of defensive actions and interceptions.

The picture is less convincing in the air.

Mayor has won 41.18 per cent of his aerial duels and averages 0.83 aerial victories per 90. StatsBomb places his aerial success at 44 per cent against a Premiership average of 51.

That provides opponents with an obvious area to focus on.

Opponents can target full-backs at the back post with diagonal deliveries or by moving a taller attacker into their area. The shift towards a back four makes that particularly relevant because Mayor cannot always rely on an additional centre-back protecting the space around him.

It is one of the more obvious development areas in an otherwise encouraging defensive profile.

Mayor’s 1.07 fouls per 90 are also higher than Cadden’s 0.56, although a rate of 0.12 cards per 90 suggests that has not developed into a significant disciplinary issue.

His 45 per cent long-pass completion provides another clue to the type of player Hibs currently have. Mayor’s progression appears to come primarily through forward passing over shorter distances, carries and combinations rather than sitting deep and repeatedly switching play.

That suits a full-back who looks most comfortable with space ahead of him.

The sample remains limited. Mayor has played 756 Premiership minutes, while Cadden’s numbers cover 1,781 minutes last season. Mayor has also been used at wing-back, full-back, in central midfield and at centre-back.

His figures can therefore still shift considerably but what they already provide is a clear outline.

Mayor is progressing possession at a level which compares favourably with almost every full-back in the Premiership. He can do so through passing or carrying and has been heavily involved defensively on the ground.

The unfinished parts are equally apparent. His final delivery has not approached Cadden’s standard and his aerial defending gives opponents something to target.

At 21, and given the changes in manager, league, team and playing style alongside disruption through injury, there should be plenty of scope for refinement.

Hibs do not need Mayor to become another Cadden. They already have a wide player capable of getting them up the pitch in his own way.

The challenge is making what happens when he gets there increasingly decisive.