Lenny considers going with kids against Bhoys

HIBS head coach Neil Lennon admits he may be forced to turn to his youngsters for Sunday’s clash with Celtic because he faces being without up to seven senior first team players.

Lennon concedes he is down to the bare bones, with captain David Gray, Paul Hanlon and Marvin Bartley all ruled out through injury.

Winger Martin Boyle will be assessed ahead of the visit of Brendan Rodgers’ side after being forced off with a head knock in last weekend’s victory at Hamilton.

Greece internationalist defender Charalampos Mavrias has joined the list of absentees after picking up a hamstring injury in training this week, while holding midfielder Mark Milligan and winger Thomas Agyepong are also doubts.

Lennon said: “At the minute we’ve got a few senior players with injuries. We may go a little bit younger because to play against Celtic we need legs because they keep the ball so well and they work you from different angles and different positions.

“Both teams want to play attacking football and have a go.

“The last game Celtic were fantastic in the first half and we played really well in the second half.

“We ended up on the wrong side of a 4-2 defeat but we came away thinking that we had made an impression which a lot of teams don’t do so we’re looking for more of the same at the weekend.”

Asked if his team can compete with the reigning champions, Lennon said: “Yes, at any given time, but when they’re in the mood, and the mentality they’ve shown under Brendan in the two-and-half years he’s been in charge has been fantastic.”