Privet saplings

LeadFarmer

I need to buy and plant 3 or 4 new privet plants, to grow into a gap thats been created in my privet hedge.

Would I be best cutting the new plants back by say a third, to encourage them to go bushy?

Also, is there an ideal size plant to buy? My current hedge is about 6ft tall, i'm wondering whether to go with small plants say 30cm tall. or go for some that are 120cm tall (before any cutting back).

Thanks