The 19-year-old striker – a January arrival from Sligo Rovers – marked his full debut with a glancing header that put the home side ahead just before the break.

And Hibs made sure of the victory with a second goal from Ante Suto – just two minutes after the striker was introduced from the bench.

It was a professional display from Hibs as they responded in the right manner from Tuesday’s painful derby defeat to Hearts.

And Gray was thrilled for Elding after watching his January recruit – one of six arrivals last month – find the net.

Gray, whose side moved to within two points of fourth-placed Motherwell in the Premiership, said: “I’m delighted for Owen on his first start, he’s had to be patient just through circumstances and he’s not got on in the last couple of games as well.

“I thought he affected the game in a positive way against Rangers when he came on.

“And everything we hoped to see from him today we definitely did, which was bringing that energy, that youthful exuberance to the game that I think was required off the back of the disappointment of last week.

“For that goal, there is his movement, anticipating where the ball’s going to go, getting across people.

“He’ll come on from that as well, he’s someone I’ve got high hopes for but at the same time still a young boy, still learning.

“And then on a personal note for Ante coming on as a sub, he’ll be disappointed he’s not started at times, but that’s exactly all you can do as a sub.

“The team that starts is never the team that finishes and can you come on and affect the game? And he’s certainly done that.”

Gray, whose side travel to Celtic next Sunday, is delighted his team also edged closer to Motherwell.

He added: “All we can do is take care of ourselves. We’ve moved three points closer to Motherwell – I know they play tomorrow and they’ve got another game in hand.

“All we can do is take care of ourselves and look at our own level of performance and results. And at this stage of the season, it is all about results.”

There was a return from the bench for fit again Buddies captain Mark O’Hara in the second half but that was the only positive for visiting manager Stephen Robinson.

St Mirren have only won one of their last 10 league games and remain just three points clear of Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off place.

Robinson said: “I see Mark coming on and the first thing he does is play a pass in behind and we get a corner from it.

“We have to take the criticism that we’re not winning football matches and we’re in a battle.

“You can lie down or stand up and fight and I know the boys will stand up and fight for me.

“We’ll fight and scrap to make sure we get the points to make sure we’re in this division. We’ll work as hard as we can to turn this situation around.

“I saw positives in the second half and I have to see the positives, it can’t all be negative.

“It is not a good situation to be in but I believe there are positives.”