Shkendija arrived in Edinburgh for Thursday's Conference League third qualifying round first leg with Hibernian without head coach Artim Polozani amid documentation issues but the visitors hope to have him in the Easter Road dugout for the match. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)
David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSOwen Elding is hoping his Hibs form will earn him a place in the Republic of Ireland squad for their Nations League matches next month - but he'll have to get his Irish passport first.
The 20-year-old forward was born in England but moved to Ireland with his family when his father, Anthony, signed for Sligo Rovers.
Elding followed in his dad's footsteps, making his Sligo debut three years ago before moving to Hibs in January this year.
He applied to become an Irish citizen but the compulsory citizenship awarding ceremony he was due to attend earlier this year was postponed because of protests over fuel prices in the country.
"I was due to have the citizenship ceremony at the start of the year, but it was cancelled," he said.
"We're near the end of it all now, I'm just waiting on the passport to come."
The hold-up prevented Elding being called up for Ireland's early-summer friendlies against Qatar and Canada but he was invited by head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson to train with the squad.
"Definitely getting that experience with the first-team international set-up was massive," he added.
"Obviously I couldn't play the game but it was just a chance for me to go in and show the staff and everyone what I could do.
"Just being around the boys for the camp and seeing what it's like is something I want to be a part of."
The attacker, who says his preferred position is the number 10 role, opened his scoring account for the season in last week's comeback win over Kosovans Malisheva that sent Hibs through to a third-round Conference League qualifier against Shkendija, with the first leg at Easter Road on Thursday.
And Elding hopes positive performances for Hibs in the Conference qualifiers will boost his prospects of making the Ireland squad for next month's Nations League games against Kosovo, Israel and Austria.
"Obviously the biggest stage in playing club football is the European stage, so everyone dreams as a kid to play in those competitions and tomorrow's the next step to where we want to be," he said.
"Obviously no Hibs team has made it into a league phase before, so we've got a real chance this year to go that one step further.
"I think we showed at home in the last tie that we're a good side, create loads of opportunities, and on our day we can beat a lot of teams."
David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSHibernian head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face FK Shkendija in the first leg of their Conference League third-round qualifier.
Here are the main points:
Gray admits Shkendija are "certainly a step up" in quality from second-round opponents Malisheva but he is confident "we're going in the right direction" in terms of match sharpness.
He adds: "It will be a difficult test but a similar one in terms of an aggressive side that move forward quickly and a few players that can cause you a threat as well."
This time last year Hibs overcame Partizan Belgrade at the same stage and Gray says "it's going to take a level of performance like that again".
The Hibs boss wants "to have a real positive result at home" and stresses "if you can keep a clean sheet you're off to a very good start".
After their defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership opener, Gray admits his side "need to be more clinical" on Thursday night and are "certainly working on that area".
The Hibs manager is also looking for his side to be "a lot more robust" in certain defensive situations and minimise the defensive errors they made against Motherwell.
He stresses that reaching the league phase is "the target" and adds: "At this moment in time we're on course to do that but it's going to take two big performances".
Gray is hopeful that in 10 days time "the squad will look very different" as he hopes to welcome Jamie McGrath and Nicky Cadden back into the fold.
Team news: Callum Wright will be in in the squad on Thursday but the game is too soon for McGrath and Cadden who have only partially trained. Martin Boyle and Joe Newell have small issues but could still be involved.
Image source, SNSHibs beat Malisheva 4-1 at Easter Road last week to progress in the Conference League
Is there too much "doom and gloom" surrounding Hibernian at the moment?
After an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to Kosovan side Malisheva in the first leg of their Conference League qualifier last month, David Gray's side won 4-1 to progress to the third qualifying round.
They play Shkendija of North Macedonia on Thursday having lost their Premiership opener 2-1 at home to Motherwell.
Former Premiership midfielder Ryan Flynn told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast that Hibs fans should be more optimistic about what the club can achieve this season, albeit they still require some work.
"They've got great legs and energy in the middle, but is the blend right?" Flynn said.
"I think sometimes as a manager you are relying on those powers above you to make sure that you recruit well enough and the squad's ready.
"Let's be honest, these are massive games for Hibs. When it comes to the end of the season, do I think Hibs will be above Motherwell? I do personally.
"So I don't think it should be too doom and gloom but at the same time, I feel like everything always falls on David Gray as the head coach and that's the way it always comes. But I feel it should be sorted earlier, the squad should be better prepared for these massive games [in Europe].
"Out of Motherwell and Hibs, I probably fancy Hibs to potentially get through the way the draws happened. So I don't think it should be so doom and gloom.
"I do understand it at times, but I feel it should be a little bit less and I feel like the lens looking at him should change a little bit."
Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, Getty ImagesHibernian's reward for a thrilling comeback win over Kosovo's Malisheva is another Balkan assignment in the shape of North Macedonia's Shkendija.
David Gray's side host the Macedonian First Football League runners-up in Thursday's Conference League third qualifying round first leg, after recovering from two down against Malisheva to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Artim Pollozhani's side have come through two qualifying rounds. They defeated Gibraltar's Europa 6-0 over two legs but faced a much sterner test against Slovenia's Bravo. A 2-1 first-leg deficit was overturned in Skopje, with Shkendija benefitting from an own goal in their 3-1 home-leg victory.
Shkendija's squad is primarily homegrown with a smattering of foreign players such as Brazilian Rafa, Gabon forward Fahd Ndzengue and Gambia goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye.
Former North Macedonia striker Besart Ibraimi is club captain and at 39 is their most experienced player.
Kosovan pair Endrit Krasniqi and Almir Kryeziu scored in the previous round and Marko Gjorgjievski's 88th-minute goal in the second leg settled the tie.
Last season, Shkendija reached the league phase of the Conference League and progressed to the knockout play-off round, losing heavily on aggregate against Turkey's Samsunspor.
Matty Fairnie
Fan writer
The last thing David Gray needed, after a Conference League qualifying win at Easter Road that started the process of winning over some very concerned fans, was to lose to another late goal at home to Motherwell.
Gray's facing an uphill battle to get the crowd onside despite his legendary status at the club and while there's still a silent majority behind him, the noisy minority is growing.
An opening-day defeat is rarely cause for calls for a head coach to go but the manner of the loss stung. Another late goal (one in each of our three competitive games this season) and a fourth home league defeat in a row, going back to last term's top-six matches, has left Gray with very little credit in the bank.
When we see a first half where Hibs, again, fail to register a shot on target it's understandable that frustrations are heard.
That said, I have seen enough from Thursday's win and the second-half performance on Sunday, where we had Motherwell hanging on, to believe it's not far from clicking. The players are evidently playing for Gray and there's no lack of effort or commitment.
I'm not ready to put my name in the 'Gray out' camp yet.
We have some tough games ahead and I would love to see Hibs and Gray emerge with positive results and more encouraging performances to set up the rest of the season without the distraction of weekly discussions on the manager's future.
We asked for your views after Hibs were paired with IFK Gothenburg of Sweden or Gent of Belgium if they oust Shkendija to reach the Conference League play-off round.
Here are some of your comments:
Bill: The squad we have will be out in next round. Too many inexperienced youngsters, and a million pound buy not getting any game time. Very poor management and board decisions.
Scott: Right at this moment - not confident of progressing against any of those sides. The team is lightweight and predictable.
Kenny: After spending Sunday afternoon at Easter Road I can't get motivated into positive thinking about the next European tie. David Gray's idea of front-foot football isn't mine. It's okay playing passing football but with Hibs there's no end product. Hes not the man to take us forward and I think we will be out of Europe after this round.
Colin: Unless we can be less predictable in our build-up play and start being more clinical in front of goal we should forget Europe. Should have scored more against Malisheva and Motherwell.
Chris: The draw could have been a lot worse, we just need to play like we did on Thursday night.
Image source, Getty ImagesGent beat LNZ Cherkasy on penalties to set up a tie against Gothenburg
Hibs still have to get past Shkendija of North Macedonia to reach a Conference League qualifying play-off, but there's no harm in looking ahead to their potential opponents.
The winner of the third qualifying round tie between IFK Gothenburg and Gent will lie in wait should Hibs progress.
Gent will be strong favourites given their European pedigree and Gothenburg's struggles in the ongoing Allsvenskan.
The Swedish outfit are 13th after just four wins in 15 matches and also struggled through the previous round of Conference League qualifying against Estonia's Levadia.
After a 2-1 loss at home, Gothenburg needed extra time in Tallinn to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Gent meanwhile have already played Scottish opposition this summer, beating Motherwell 4-3 in a friendly.
They also struggled through the second round of Conference League qualifying, coming through a penalty shootout to beat Ukrainian side LNZ Cherkasy after two goalless draws.
They came fifth in the Belgian Pro League last term, but have reached the knockout stages of the Conference League in the past four seasons and will be heavy favourites to reach the play-offs.
We asked for your views after Hibernian suffered a dramatic opening-day Scottish Premiership defeat against Motherwell on Sunday.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Alan: Really poor first half and you wonder what would have happened if they had started the game like they did in the second half. That said enough chances were created to go ahead had the strikers managed to convert one of the many good crosses into the box.
Kev: Hibs have no shape, no real style of play and a manager who has no Plan A, never mind a Plan B. It's time for David Gray to move on.
Rosh: Deja vu all over again. Struggle to convert our chances when we are on top and then get sucker punched at the other end. This Hibs team just simply cannot be trusted to get the job done. First half was a snoozefest and quite simply unacceptable.
John: Same as last season. Can't fault effort but no-one to deliver the killer pass to the strikers. I find we're too easy to play through at times and our defence panics when that happens.
Alex: Copy and paste from last season. Make good chances, miss them and lose a late goal. Only played three competitive game this season and have lost a goal in the last 10 minutes in each of them. Got to get this sorted or it's going to be no better than last season.
Hibernian have been drawn against IFK Gothenburg of Sweden or Gent of Belgium if they oust Shkendija of Macedonia and reach the Conference League play-off round.
David Gray's side would be away from home for the first leg on 20 August, with the return the following Thursday.
Gothenburg finished fourth in last season's Allsvenskan, while Gent were fifth in the Belgian Pro League and have reached the league stage in recent years.
What do you think of the draw and how do you rate the Leith side's chances of qualifying?
Watch Sportscene highlights from Easter Road as Ibrahim Said's late goal secures Motherwell's win over Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.
Available to UK users only.
Motherwell continued their impressive start to life under manager Alfred Johansson as Ibrahim Said's superb goal secured a narrow Scottish Premiership victory at Hibernian.
Image source, SNSHibernian head coach David Gray tells Sky Sports: "Second half was much more like us and then we have the big moment in the game.
"I thought there was only one team that was going to win the game with the chances we created.
"We lose it through naivety. The goal we lose is really poor. Yes, people make mistakes, but don't make two or three. We also need to be more clinical. You need to take your chances when you're on top.
"We can't feel sorry for ourselves with a European game on Thursday night.
"We've dropped points today and that's really tough to take.
"It helps when bodies come back [from injury. We're always looking [for new signings]. Naturally, there will be people going the other way."
Image source, SNSHibernian head coach David Gray believes his side are in excellent fettle for their league opener following a stirring European comeback.
Hibs banished their dismal 2-0 defeat in Kosovo by progressing to the third qualifying round of the Conference League with a 4-1 second leg win over Malisheva at Easter Road on Thursday.
They now host fellow Conference League hopefuls Motherwell in the Premiership on Sunday.
"It was job done in terms of progressing in Europe into the next round, that's fantastic," Gray said. "Especially from where we were, to come back, we should take the confidence from that and also the way we played.
"Certainly the legs won't feel as tired as if we had lost the game and, just mentally, had the feeling of not progressing in Europe. So we're certainly going into the game in a real positive frame of mind."
Gray, whose side face Shkendija in the next round, added: "It's a big effort required again against Motherwell but I'll go back to what I said going into the first leg [against Malisheva] which was I'm really happy with how pre-season went, really happy with the physicality of the players.
"We need to keep moving forward and we've got an opportunity at home against a team that's progressed in Europe as well.
"I'm delighted for them, you want your Scottish clubs to do well. I think that is important. They've started well again.
"They've got a new manager, they'll be a different test slightly but at the same time I think they're playing quite a similar way and we know it will be a difficult test, but it's one where we want to try and do it right.
"It's a team that we never beat last season but we've got an opportunity in the first game to try and do that."
Image source, SNSHibs could have Callum Wright and Ante Suto back in the squad after injury but Nicky Cadden and Jamie McGrath (both calf) are set to remain sidelined, along with Rocky Bushiri (Achilles).
Motherwell have added new loan signings Alex Lowry and Jamie Knight-Lebel while Tawanda Maswanhise was back in action on Thursday with a mask protecting his fractured jaw.
Johnny Koutroumbis (hand), Eythor Bjorgolfsson are pushing for comebacks while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (calf) remains out along with Jordan McGhee (hamstring), Paul McGinn, Callum Hendry and Stephen O'Donnell (all knee).
We asked for your views after Hibs hit back from a 2-0 first-leg deficit to overcome Malisheva and reach the third round of Conference League qualifying.
Here are some of your comments:
Robbie: Job done in the end. Yes the away leg was well below par, but ultimately it's about going through. It was great to see David Gray release the shackles slightly, shows what we can do as an attacking force if given the freedom. If we can do that more often than not this year we'll be in for a decent finish in the league.
William: We qualified, thats the main thing. Bit sloppy with the passing and missed a few sitters. Jury still out, Motherwell will reveal if any progress has been made. I feel the next tie at home might be coming a bit quick for us, as it's a must win.
Kenny: This was a must win for the manager but the fans will demand more of the same instead of the the boring football served up last season. We need to see a Hibs team play of the front foot and get into teams. The fans don't mind losing a game if beaten by a better team but the won't stand for tippy-tappy football we played all last season.
John: Great performance up until the last 20 minutes. Again Joe Newell cost uswith slack defending. Again Hibs were in total control, subs are made and the game changes for the worse.
Graeme: Some sort of redemption after the debacle of last week, but far from outstanding against a side that were no better than an average non-league outfit. The fact we were hanging on at the end is a concern. We should have been home and hosed before half-time.
Ross: Let's not get too excited by that. A few standout performances - Owen Elding, Miguel Chaiwa and Martin Boyle - and credit to Nathan Lowe for fantastic workrate. Felix Passlack and Jason Kerr also very good. Unless we play at the tempo we showed on Thursday night, things can easily go south.
