Neil’s Back!: A Celtic-Hibs Preview

SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER: SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP; CELTIC V HIBS 3:00PM

After our triumph in Anderlecht it’s back to league duty as Neil Lennon brings his Hibs side to Celtic Park in what’s sure to be an interesting day.

Team Selection: Defensively I hope they are no changes from the other night, Boyata and Simunovic looked very good at the back.

Brendan Rodgers today confirmed that both Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong will miss Scotland’s upcoming fixtures, so naturally both will also miss tomorrow’s game. Presumably that means that Callum McGregor will come in for Brown, with Tom Rogic probably in for Armstrong.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Moussa Dembele started the game, it seems like the type of game that Jonny Hayes was signed for so he may well start the game too.

Previous Meetings: This is our first match against Hibs since January 26th 2014, when a brace for Kris Commons and goals from Virgil Van Dijk and Teemu Pukki gave Celtic a 4-0 win at Easter Road.

The last game at Celtic Park between the teams was on the 14th of December 2013, when a goal by Teemu Pukki separated the sides in a game played in terrible conditions.

Prediction: The big story is of course Neil Lennon’s return to Celtic Park, and he’s sure to get a fine reception from the supporters. Anthony Stokes and Efe Ambrose could also be involved for Hibs, whilst Leigh Griffiths says that if he scores tomorrow against the club he supports he won’t celebrate. Funny old game.

Adding to the above intrigue is how much Wednesday night’s exhalations will have taken out of the Celtic players, but I suppose that’s what you’ve got a big squad for, players should be able to come in and do a job.

Celtic have the players to get the job done, and after a tough match - as Lennon will have his players right up for the game - Celtic should win by a couple of goals.

Celtic 3 Hibs 1