Battle stations for Lewis ahead of Hoops’ visit
Hibs defender Lewis Stevenson admits he is steeling himself for a battle, against a player he regards as the ‘hardest’ to play against in the Premiership when Celtic arrive today.
The left-back is likely to find himself going directly against James Forrest, a winger arguably at the peak of his powers.
Forrest has notched 16 goals for club and country this season, including five in Scotland’s last two UEFA Nations League outings, and been credited with some 13 assists for Celtic.
Stevenson’s unassuming manner off the park, however, is the antithesis of his doggedness to deliver on it.
The 30-year-old’s longevity at Hibs (he is in his 14th season with the Leith outfit) which includes working under and having to win over countless managers in the dugout, owes to the fact any frailties in his game rarely come to light.
However, Stevenson recognises Forrest’s ability to leave defenders chasing shadows.
“James has been brilliant over the last few seasons,” noted Stevenson. “He’s got a bit of everything, and for the national team as well he’s been flying.
“If I do come up against him, I know I’m going to be in for a tough game. On paper, he’s probably your hardest player to play against.
“He’s very difficult to mark. You can’t get too tight or he’ll spin in behind, and if you give him too much time, he can go both ways.
“I don’t want to say I’ve done well against him in the past because that could change. You maybe need to double up on him or whatever.
“But they’ve got quality all over the pitch. It’s not just him you need to focus on.
“They’ve got an attacking threat all through the team.
“Sometimes when you look at the team, it maybe looks too attacking. But it’s been working well for them in recent weeks and we know we’re going to have to bring the best of our game.
“Hopefully they’ll have a wee dip in form and maybe we can snatch something.”