NEIL’S GUNNAR END UP BEING MAIN MAN TOO
NEIL LENNON started the season squaring up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but Alan Stubbs reckons the standin Celtic boss will end up emulating the Norwegian.
They were in opposition dugouts when Hibs and Molde met in the Europa League qualifiers in July but both of their worlds have been turned upside down after answering SOS calls from their old clubs.
Solskjaer is surely now a shoo-in to land the Manchester United gig on a full-time basis after the stunning Champions League win against PSG on Wednesday night.
And ex-Celt Stubbs is convinced Lennon already has one hand on a permanent contract at Parkhead again after returning with a bang to replace Brendan Rodgers.
Speaking on behalf of BT Sport, Stubbs said: “It is down to Lenny. If he keeps winning and delivers a league title and a cup it is going to be very difficult not to give him the job.
“It’s very similar to the situation with Solskjaer at Man United. If he keeps winning and presenting his case it will be very hard for them to say no.
“Lenny is three-quarters BY MICHAEL GANNON of the way there in one competition and two games away in the other.
“It is there for him and, if he does it, it’ll be difficult for Peter Lawwell to look at other candidates.”
Stubbs insisted Lennon will have a smooth run to eight in a row if rivals Rangers stumble against his other former club at Easter Road this evening.
He reckons new Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom had a rude awakening against Celts last week and needs a reaction.
Stubbs said: “If Rangers lose and Celtic win on Saturday that will be 11 points. That’s four games.
“Rangers have not won five games on the bounce in the league this year.
“To win the title they potentially need to win nine – probably all 10. That is an enormous feat.
“It was the least impact a Hibs team has had against an Old Firm side for a while. You have to learn from it quickly.”
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