Lennon wants both Grant Holt and Scott McDonald at Hibs

Neil Lennon is in talks with strikers Grant Holt, above, and Scott McDonald, below, over moves to Easter Road

The Easter Road boss admitted he’s in talks with the experienced strikers, both of whom he knows from past experience, McDonald at Celtic and Grant at Nottingham Forest and has his fingers crossed they can be persuaded to sign on in Edinburgh.

Conceding he is “light up front” with only last season’s top scorer Jason Cummings and James Keatins to call upon as his squad complete their first few days of pre-season training, the new manager said: “We are in talks with both of them.

“There’s nothing confirmed yet so I can’t guarantee anything. But obviously they are two players I know. I saw Grant at Huddersfield when I was at Bolton and wanted to sign him, then he had a bad injury.

“But he has recovered well and looks in decent condition. It’s all to do with how the medical goes and if we’re happy with it and he is happy with it. Scotty we are down the line in talks, but not over the line just yet.”

Lennon firmly believes 32-year-old Australian internationalist McDonald, who has just completed a second spell with Motherwell after first moving on to join Celtic, Middlesbrough and Millwall, and Holt, at 35, and a veteran of 14 former clubs in England, will bring plenty of experience to bear in Hibs’ promotion bid.

He said: “I think it’s what we need. Certainly in Grant’s case, I don’t think we have a physical presence at the top end of the pitch. He knows his way around a football pitch and has played in all the leagues in England so he is very experienced and has actually got better as his career went on.

“Obviously, it has been curtailed by the cruciate injury, but I think he still has a lot to offer. Scott, I thought, had a fine season with Motherwell. But, like I say, nothing is done yet. We are just in talks at the minute.

“It’s a really important position but we have only got Cummings and Keatings. I like what I’ve got with them, but I think we need a bit more to support those two.”

Lennon is convinced both McDonald and Holt could probably earn more money elsewhere, but the fact they are considering Hibs “for football reasons” was, for him as manager, a great sign although he also believes the fact the Capital club are seen to be “on the up” is another factor which could entice others to Edinburgh.

He said: “The stadium, the training ground and the fanbase were great selling points for me. Winning the cup has lifted the fans, too, and they are on the front foot. That might entice a few people to come.”