Hibernian manager Lee Johnson says he is having "conversations" with ex-Carlisle United man Harry McKirdy after another controversial social media post.

The out-of-favour attacker used Instagram to post a picture of a bench recently with the caption: "'Chelsea, Nina, Golf, Hibs".

It was taken as a mimic of Gareth Bale's infamous "Wales, Golf, Madrid" tweet which angered supporters of Real Madrid back in 2019.

McKirdy was an unused sub in Hibs' 2-1 win over St Mirren last weekend and has yet to score in 19 appearances since his move from Swindon Town last year.

Manager Johnson, in comments reported by The National, said: “It looked like it was an equivalent of the Bale scenario.

"My mentality is always to protect the team. That's my sole motivation, my sole agenda. What I want is players to respect their teammates.

"So yes, conversations have been had and are being had at the moment with Harry."

Johnson added that McKirdy - a Carlisle player from 2019-20 - was not "a bad lad" but was "emotive" in certain situations.

"We'll decide what the best course of action with him is, not only for the good of the team but also to support players like that," added the Easter Road chief.

“There's a lot of stick that flies about on the back of social media comments like that and these lads are desperate to play, they're desperate to perform and there's a lot of pressure on them.

"There are two sides to it. We've got systems in place to protect our players, but also to reprimand if we feel that's required."

It is not McKirdy's first potential social media misdemeanour during his time in Scotland.

Last November he was spoken to by Hibs after replying "not wrong" to a Swindon fan who suggested he should return to the County Ground.