What next for Hibs loanees Greg Docherty, Mark McNulty, Stephane Omeonga and Jason Naismith?

The confirmation that Hibs' loanees have returned to their parent clubs following the conclusion of the 2019-20 season prompts the question, what next for the players?

All four were praised highly by the Easter Road club in a statement confirming their departure, hailing them as "popular" figures, and reflecting on the "important contributions" made during the recently curtailed campaign.

Jack Ross is also a fan of the quartet, stating in a recent article that he would be keen to bring all four back to Easter Road next season – but will that be possible?

Here we look at each players' individual situation and weigh up whether a return to Hibs is likely, or not.

Greg Docherty

The 23-year-old would be welcomed back with open arms having made an impression in a short period of time at Easter Road, scoring three times in eight appearances, but he has two years left on his current deal at Rangers, who would likely look to recoup at least some of the £600,000 paid to Hamilton for the midfielder two years ago in any sale.

The likelihood of Hibs splashing out on a big transfer fee in normal circumstances, let alone the current climate, is slim at best but another loan move, preferably on a season-long deal if all parties were open to it, would be a possibility.

Any prospect of a permanent return for Docherty would likely hinge on a swap deal for wantaway striker Florian Kamberi, who moved in the opposite direction in a loan switch to Ibrox during the January window.

Kamberi has burned his bridges at Easter Road having made it clear he sees his future at Rangers despite still having another year left on his Hibs contract.

He has also angered Hibs fans with comments made in the aftermath of his loan move to Ibrox, describing it as his dream move ever since he featured against them in only his second match for Hibs. Whether Rangers want to retain Kamberi is another matter with the Swiss striker only managing two starts and seven substitute appearances under Steven Gerrard, with his only goal coming in a 2-2 draw at St Johnstone.

The other matter to consider, and the most important, is whether Docherty himself would want to return to Easter Road.

He clearly enjoyed his time at Hibs - it was mutually beneficial and the fans certainly took to him - but his main goal, understandably, is going to be to try to make the breakthrough at his parent club, and you can't knock him for that.

You also have to consider that Hibs may not even be his second choice, with the player believed to be keen on a return to England, having enjoyed a successful loan spell with Shrewsbury Town last season.

But with coronavirus likely to impact on squad sizes and wages in the lower leagues down south, this avenue may not be as open as it was previously so Hibs fans shouldn't shut the door entirely on the prospect of seeing Docherty in green and white next season.

Stephane Omeonga

Having now enjoyed two loan spells at Easter Road, and struck up a positive relationship with the fans, Omeonga is understood to want to make his stay at Hibs permanent.

The 24-year-old would have done just that last summer had Hibs been able to negotiate a fee with Genoa. The Belgian midfielder is out of the picture at his parent club – he spent the first half of last season on loan at Cercle Bruges in his homeland – but the Serie A side have been holding out for a sizable fee for a player who still has two years left on his current contract.

Whether the Italians will be easier to deal with this summer in the wake of the coronavirus crisis remains to be seen, but in terms of the player himself, Omeonga would not be difficult to deal with.

Marc McNulty

While the player hails from Edinburgh, supports Hibs and loves playing for the club, there are several stumbling blocks when it comes to making the move to Easter Road a permanent one.

McNulty has two years left to run on his deal with his parent club, Reading, who paid £1m to sign him from Coventry City in 2018, so any transfer would likely involve a fee.

With McNulty also believed to be on a good contract at the English Championship side, where the average wage greatly exceeds any offer Hibs could make, then the player would have to be willing to accept a drop in salary, at a time of great financial uncertainty, to return to his home city.

He may be considered surplus to requirements at the Madejski Stadium, but at 27, he will still have ambitions of doing well in England, where he is a proven goalscorer at League One level following prolific spells with Sheffield United and Coventry City, and would likely have a number of suitors.

Unless Reading cut their losses, pay up his contract and allow him to leave, a third loan spell might be his best and perhaps only route back to Easter Road, preferably on a season-long deal, which would benefit the player in terms of his aspirations of getting back into the Scotland squad.

Jason Naismith

Felt he'd "won a watch" after joining Hibs on a season-long loan from Peterborough last summer and became the club’s first-choice right-back under Jack Ross, only to suffer a season-ending cruciate ligament injury in January.

Before the injury setback a return to Hibs on a permanent deal was looking more likely than not, but with Paul McGinn subsequently brought in from St Mirren, on top of David Gray still under contract, the question now is whether the manager wants three right-backs in his squad next season, including one who may not be fit for the start of the campaign.

Peterborough will not be difficult to deal with though and are trying to offload the full-back on a pay-per-play deal.

“Jason’s injury was badly timed for him,” Posh director of football Barry Fry said. “He was playing well in Scotland. Hibs were pleased with him.

“But he’s back with us at the end of June which neither Jason nor the club wants so I’m trying to be creative in a way which helps all parties.

“I have spoken to Jason’s agent to tell him we are prepared to let him go on a pay-per-play basis. I’ve also had a couple of conversations with other clubs, but without joy as yet.”