View From The Field: Murray’s Matters (Joelle Murray column)

The Hibernian captain writes at the start of a season she says was set up by an unusually productive pre-season. Good recruitment gave the squad strength, depth and competition for places, which lifted the tempo of every session; she names all five new arrivals, three American and two with Scottish top-flight experience. The first session back was the dreaded fitness testing, which she notes some wiser heads treated as a marker rather than a maximum. Pre-season ran alongside League Cup group games and friendlies against Charlton in wind and rain and Everton in sunshine. Hibs opened with a 3-0 win over Spartans. She marks the retirements of Leanne Ross and Kim Little, and welcomes Scotland’s move to Hampden.