PENNANT A HIGH FLIER

JERMAINE PENNANT boosted his chances of landing a deal at Hibs after netting in last night’s win at Dunfermline.

The ex-Liverpool winger made his mark as a trialist in the friendly with Danny Swanson, Martin Boyle and Olly Shaw also on target.

Hibs gaffer Neil Lennon said: “We’re going to have a good look at Jermaine over three or four games before we make a decision on it.

“People talk about age but at 34 he’s still got two or three years in him.”

On the game, Lennon said: “It was a good work out, a good performance considering it’s their first game since May 6.

“We looked good, looked sharp and I’m very pleased with the overall quality of performance.”

The Pars made a bright start and David Hopkirk twice went close before Swanson put Hibs ahead on 24 minutes after exchanging passes with Callum Craine and rifling a low shot home from 12 yards.

Pennant hit the post seconds before the break from a 30-yard free-kick awarded after new Pars midfielder Aaron Splaine was booked for a late lunge on Dylan McGeouch.

But the trialist, who played for Bury during the second half of last season, did make it 2-0 in the 58th minute, keeping his cool to net from close range after taking down midfielder John McGinn’s cross.

Boyle, among eight second-half subs, then got on the scoresheet when he raced into the box and fired a low drive into the net in the 71st minute. Shaw got in on the act five minutes later, rounding it off by heading in McGinn’s cross from six yards.

Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston said: “It was a poor game, we were really flat.

“We didn’t create enough chances and when John McGinn came on in the second half he ran the show. A wee bit of quality stands out a mile.”