Former Coleraine manager Dean Shiels - once a player with Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Rangers - is in the running for the Greenock Morton manager's job. (Daily Record)
Read the rest of Monday's gossip.
Watch highlights of Hibernian's 3-0 win against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSKieron Bowie netted a double in Hibs' 3-0 win over Falkirk
Kieron Bowie knows it will be "tough" to earn a spot in Scotland's World Cup squad next summer, but is determined to "boost my chances" by coming up trumps for Hibernian.
Bowie, 23, scored twice for David Gray's side in their 3-0 win over Falkirk at Easter Road to take his tally to seven for the season.
His form since arriving in Edinburgh earned him an international call-up earlier this year, and he made his debut for Steve Clarke's side in the June friendly against Liechtenstein.
"Obviously, there's a lot of good players in Scotland, and it's a very good squad, so it's tough to get in it," Bowie, who picked his second cap in the World Cup qualifier in Hungary against Belarus, told BBC Scotland.
"Everyone's going to be trying their luck and trying to do as best as they can to impress.
"You have Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, all of them. Lawrence Shankland, obviously, on the other side of Edinburgh.
"So it's obviously a tough group of strikers. Hopefully we can do well on the pitch and that'll boost my chances."
Head coach Gray, who acknowledged Bowie "hasn't always been an out-and-out centre-forward", insisted there is "a lot more to come" from the forward.
"He keeps himself to himself, he's a humble boy that keeps working hard," Gray added.
"It's great when you score two goals, everybody speaks about you - but the one thing I would quickly remind Kieron, and I don't really need to do it, is just to keep working hard, keep improving, because there's a lot more to come."
We asked for your views on Hibernian's 3-0 win against Falkirk.
Here's what some of you said:
George: Good performance, although, work rate let us down the second half. Substitutions made a huge difference later on, with Josh Campbell excelling with his pace and energy. Goalkeeper again looks solid, with one outstanding save in the second half. Kieron Bowie taking his goals well, especially the second.
Neil: That's the performance and effort we want to see every game. Every player was committed, positive and what a real professional performance. Josh got man of the match, but there were many candidates, not least Jamie McGrath who was outstanding.
Sandy: Masterclass in tactical know how by David Gray! A truly excellent performance. Will need to get the American visa's ready for Kieran and the others fast on this form.
John: First half excellent, second half did not have the same intensity. Nonetheless some good performances especially Josh Mulligan. Good result and good team performance.
Kenny: Mulligan just gets better and better. Bowie's first goal was fantastic. If we can keep this kind of form in the league we won't be far away at the end of the season. Consistency is the secret and that's all the Hibs fans are hoping for. Great performance.
Laurence: A very good first half but a slow start after the break was uncomfortable to watch, the third goal was needed to kill off a rejuvenated Falkirk. We need to force ourselves more on the opposition when we are on top. We'll lose a few players for the African Cup of Nations so the next month could be pivotal on how the rest of our season plays out. Hopefully the injuries clear up soon and a full strength squad can see us through on towards a strong 2026.
Image source, SNSHibernian head coach David Gray: "Really positive. Everything I asked the players to do, I saw. They were on the front foot, real dominant performance first half.
"Second half, credit to Falkirk, they had a real go and were more direct at times. We got the third goal at a good time.
"We will play better than we did in the second half, but at the same time they showed resilience, kept a clean sheet and we've given ourselves a good platform to build on.
"I don't like singling players out, but Josh [Mulligan] set the tone. His performance was excellent, with and without the ball. His desire to run forward and play with that intensity, and he deserved the man of the match.
"Goals give players confidence and I'm delighted with Kieron [Bowie]'s second goal. He looks to come out the box too much, and there's more to come from him. I'm delighted for him, it'll do his confidence the world of good."
Hibernian moved to fourth in the Scottish Premiership for now and shrugged top-six chasers Falkirk aside in a comfortable win at Easter Road.
Charlton Athletic could seek an alternate plan for Zach Mitchell in January since the on-loan defender has yet to feature for Hibernian. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Image source, SNSGrant Hanley returns from suspension but Nicky Cadden drops out for Hibs with a calf injury while Junior Hoilett and Jordan Obita (hamstring) are doubts.
Thibault Klidje will be back in training next week. Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) remains out.
Falkirk have a doubt over Keelan Adams (groin) while Coll Donaldson and Aidan Nesbitt are building up their fitness after long-term absences.
Gary Oliver (hamstring), Ross MacIver (ankle), Lewis Neilson (ankle) and Tom Lang (foot) remain on the sidelines.
Image source, SNSHibs head coach David Gray has been accentuating the positives as his side look to bounce back from consecutive defeats.
Setbacks against Motherwell and Celtic have seen Hibs suffer back-to-back defeats for the first time in 13 months.
But they have had a free week to prepare for Saturday's visit of Falkirk while their opponents drew with Motherwell in midweek.
Gray told Hibs TV: "It's been a positive week in terms of what I have seen from the players on the grass.
"The start of the week was frustrating when you go back over the game and reflect on what we did.
"But we try not to be too downbeat after a defeat, which is really difficult to do, because we can never accept losing games and it doesn't hurt any less when you play well and lose.
"But there was a lot of positives when I think back to what I asked the players to do and what I saw, especially at the start of the game.
"We had that two-minute period and up to half-time we weren't as good as we were.
"So I was able to show the players that and now we quickly move on to the challenge of playing a team who are directly level with us on points and it's an opportunity to put ourselves three points in front of them."
Image source, SNSThe highs of last season's surge to a third-place finish are a fading memory for Hibs fans amid this term's up-and-down form.
The Easter Road club have five wins from their 15 Premiership games and occupy fifth place before Saturday's visit of Falkirk.
Hibs legend Joelle Murray, the defender turned coach, told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast: "I think the inconsistency in performances [is why fans are unhappy].
"Last season, the second half of last season in particular, we had a fantastic run of form and results and I think the expectation was that we would pick up from there and really use that as a springboard into this season, especially off the back of the retention of players and the new signings.
"Whether it be injuries, illness or just a genuine dip in form, we've not really had the consistency that we showed towards the tail-end of last season so I think that's why the fans are frustrated.
"However, when you do look at the table, sitting on 21 points, we're fifth, but a few points takes you right up there.
"It's a difficult one because it's a results-driven business. We of course want to play nice football, but we are still in and among the top end of the table."
Hibernian have submitted planning permission for upgrades to their Ormiston training base, which is struggling to accommodate all the senior and academy teams using the facility. (Hibs Observer - subscription required), external
Image source, SNSNo side have had more penalties in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hibs (five), with the Easter Road team scoring four of their spot-kicks – just one fewer than they did in the whole of last season's competition (five).
Hibs are unbeaten in 18 top-flight home games against newly-promoted opponents (W8 D10) since a 1-0 defeat to Ross County in December 2012 under Pat Fenlon.
Falkirk are winless in 11 top-flight meetings with Hibs (D5 L6) since a 2-1 victory in December 2006 under John Hughes.
Hibs have lost their past two league games – as many as their previous 15 beforehand (W5 D8) – while they last lost three in a row in October 2024. Hibs could also lose back-to-back home league games for the first time since May 2024.
Falkirk have kept a clean sheet in three successive league games, last doing so four times running in the Premiership in March 2008. Their last two, though, have been goalless. The last side to play out three consecutive 0-0 draws in the top flight were Hibs in March 2022.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has confirmed talks with midfielder Dante Polvara regarding a new contract are ongoing, with the 25-year-old out of contract in the summer and on Hibernian's radar. (Press & Journal), external
Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Matty Fairnie
Fan writer
It's been a tough week for Hibs.
Two games where we've conceded in quick succession and gone on to lose has really dampened what was left of the early-season optimism, particularly the manner of the goals.
Last season's horror start was characterised by self-inflicted wounds, and we're seeing the same bad habits creeping back into our play.
Whether it's defensive lapses at key moments, or missing sitters, the result has been no points from six in a week where two victories could have taken us into second place.
It hasn't worked at either end of the pitch in the past two games and it definitely feels like there's something lacking in this Hibs side at the moment. Last season's turnaround was delivered with swagger and confidence, sparked by the 3-3 draw with Aberdeen.
Maybe David Gray needs another result snatched from the jaws of defeat to give his side the lift that's needed to make sure the season doesn't turn into a mid-table battle with the other top-six hopefuls.
Gray definitely needs and deserves time to find the answers, though – we saw what he is capable of last season and glimpsed it in our early European campaign, so I'm hopeful the club shut out the noise and back him to strengthen the squad in January.
Finally, best wishes to the BBC's Kenny Macintyre on his recovery from prostate cancer. It's a measure of Kenny that he would use his platform to raise awareness of the importance of regular screening, and I hope he has a speedy recovery.
Image source, SNSHibernian defender Rocky Bushiri has been named in DR Congo's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Bushiri, 26, joins Celtic winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha, 24, in Sebastien Desabre's squad.
DR Congo will play Benin (23 December), Senegal (27 December) and Botswana (30 December) in Group D.
Bushiri has been capped five times and Balikwisha made his DR Congo debut in the play-off victory over Nigeria last month after switching allegiance from Belgium.
We asked for your views on Hibs' 2-1 defeat to Celtic yesterday.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Neil: No need to overanalyse this one. A better performance than against Motherwell, but we gifted Celtic two goals and never took our chances, therefore we didn't deserve to win the game.
Bill: Same old shortcomings, keeper and Rocky Bushiri caught out for first, Bushiri jogging back at second. Once again formation not working, Chris Cadden and Jordan Obita can't defend. Kieron Bowie and Martin Boyle having to chase long balls, not much service. Nothing on bench.
Mark: Hibs played well for long periods and dominated for most of it. Ninety seconds of lapsed concentration cost us the points. If we continue to play like that, we'll win more than we lose.
Ross: Concerned with some of the performances against the bigger clubs so far this season. Far too passive in games vs the old firm and I disagree with David Gray's assessment. We never looked like getting back into the game. We are becoming a little too predictable in our tactics.
Sandy: Hibs are in need of a 'statement' win, and it was not to be today. Celtic were not the better team, as much as we shot ourselves in the foot with defensive errors yet again!
Scott: Started and finished well but in-between Celtic mostly controlled the game. Finishing was poor as was the defending for the two Celtic goals. Gray simply must do better with this squad.
Michael: Celtic were handed the first goal but we did better in the second half but a point a piece would have been fair!
Grant: I think we shouldn't be playing out from the back against a quality side like Celtic, tactics were wrong again. When we changed the shape second half, and went a bit more direct we definitely had them on the ropes.
Watch highlights from Celtic's Scottish Premiership win at Easter Road on Sunday.
Available to UK users only.
Hibernian head coach David Gray hopes Nicky Cadden's early withdrawal in the loss to Celtic will mean his calf strain is not as severe while tightness felt by Jordan Obita is "nothing significant". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external
Two former referees say Celtic full-back Colby Donovan should have been sent off for a challenge on Obita in the visitors' 2-1 win at Easter Road. (The Ref's View via Record, external)
Steve Conroy and Des Roache also bemoan a lack of consistency over the handball rule. (The Ref's View via Glasgow Times, external)
The penalty for handball given against Celtic's Liam Scales following a VAR review in their win over Hibs was the correct call, believes the defender. (Herald - subscription required), external
Image source, SNSHibernian head coach David Gray: "For very large periods we were on top. We definitely deserved to get something.
"I saw everything I asked the players to do. You need to take your chances against a team like Celtic, that's something that's maybe let us down today.
"You give Celtic a two-goal head start, it's a difficult thing [to come back from]. The players maybe got spooked by that. We saw a really positve reaction second half.
"I take responsibility for the first goal, mistakes happen with the way we try to play out. The players should take belief from the second half."
Image source, SNSHibs defender Grant Hanley drops out through suspension but Josh Campbell returns from injury. Rudi Molotnikov (ankle), Junior Hoilett (niggle) and Dylan Levitt (appendix) are out.
Celtic hope Colby Donovan can shake off a foot knock while Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi are in contention after hamstring injuries.
James Forrest remains out while Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand (both hamstring) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) are long-term absentees.
