Stephen Mallan is starring for Hibernian right now and Neil Lennon will be hoping he inspires a win against Scottish Premiership champions Celtic.
Celtic battered St Johnstone 6-0 away from home on Sunday but Brendan Rodgers’ side will not have it so easy in their first game after the international break.
The Hoops are set to welcome the in-form Hibernian to Parkhead on October 20 – and there is one player in particular that Rodgers should be worried about.
Stephen Mallan has been a revelation at Easter Road after all, justifying his bargain £150,000 move from Barnsley with nine goals in all competitions including two in Hibs’ very own 6-0 win against Hamilton at the weekend.
And, speaking to Deadline News, Hibernian stalwart Paul Hanlon has lauded Mallan’s impact in quotes that should give Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon sleepless nights.
“It’s getting to the stage where you are disappointed if Stevie [Mallan] doesn’t hit the target. He is so accurate and the way he strikes the ball is incredible.
“In terms of long-range shooting I can’t remember seeing anyone like him in Scotland. He is deadly from 25 yards.”
Interestingly, Hibernian manager Neil Lennon went as far as to compare Mallan to Celtic legend Lubo Moravcik (STV), the former Czech Republic international who won two league titles at Parkhead between 1998 and 2002.
For the most part, Celtic have been nowhere near their best this season so Mallan will be licking his lips about the prospect of coming up against a defence which last looked shaky throughout 2018.
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