Poolside pints will feel a long way away if Celtic fail to beat Hibs

Neil Lennon might have thought the pressure was all on Celtic a week ago, when his side went to Ibrox for what felt like a do- or- die league encounter.

But what about this Monday evening, when Lennon, pictured, and his sunworshipping squad deign to return to league action against a Hibernian side in a run of poor form.

Celtic, by contrast, have been doing a lot better and even the defeat against Rangers, having taken the game to the league leaders until Nir Bitton’s red card, saw them emerge with some credit.

Nevertheless, the hoohah about the club’s winter break in Dubai – in a season when there isn’t even a winter break scheduled – amid the drastic Covid- 19 situation at home is refusing to die down. The sight of a sunkissed Celtic team emerging from the tunnel will be an instant trigger for barbed comments.

Even the mere rescheduling of the game has proved controversial.

Celtic asked for the fixture to be moved to accommodate their travel plans, a request granted by the SPFL despite Hibs’ objections. It makes failure to gain three points even less tolerable.

And then there’s the desire of Hibs to put one over their hosts. “You’re no’ on your sun lounger now, Broonie!” is something the skipper may hear – if selected – when dumped to the turf by Ryan Porteous.

They are all now back in chilly Scotland. Was a mere four days of training in hot weather worth all the opprobrium? Will it really make a significant difference? We will soon see.

Because if Celtic do slip up against Jack Ross’s currently faltering side, they will be back to square one. Lennon’s future will be the subject of fierce debate again. And poolside pints will feel a long way away.