HIBERNIAN

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER

JOHN McGINN more than looked at home when he played for St Mirren in the Premiership from 2012 to 2015.

He broke through as a teenager, and the chat soon moved from the fact he was part of the McGinn dynasty (he is the grandson of former SFA President and ex-Celtic chairman Jack and his brothers, Stephen and Paul, also played for St Mirren) to how good a player he was.

That impression has continued.

Returning to the top flight as a full Scotland international at the age of 22, I think he will be one of the most important players, not just for Hibs but in the division as a whole.

He is an impressive player already, one full of energy and drive who is very positive and has a great attitude.

Again, if he carries on developing, he has the potential to have a huge future.

especiallyIt should interesting be to againstsee how Celtic,he goes with Brendan Rodgers on record as being an admirer.

Rodgers has chosen to go for foreign talent to reinforce his midfield, with Olivier Ntcham joining Eboue Kouassi, who was signed in the January transfer window.

With an additional point to prove to Rodgers and the Celtic support, John should be well worth the watching.

MANAGER – NEIL LENNON

NEIL (left) is a big character and will be a welcome addition back in the Premiership.

He was with a stronger team during his years playing and managing with Celtic. But he is an ambitious guy and I am sure his goal will be to deliver a top- six finish at the first time of asking.

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

THE return of top-flight football for a club that averages home gates of over 15,000, and the return of the Edinburgh derby.

There has also been plenty of activity in the transfer market to chew over. Hibs have signed eight players and are still looking to get more.

Simon Murray (left), a good reliable striker who gives defences a hard time, and Danny Swanson, who was decent at St Johnstone, strike me as especially good pick-ups.

REASONS TO BE FEARFUL

JASON CUMMINGS is going to be a big loss.

The statistics don’t lie, and Jason’s effort in scoring more than 20 goals in three successive seasons – becoming the first man since Joe Baker to achieve the feat for Hibs – was some effort.

What’s more, Hibs were guilty of picking up a lot of home draws last year, winning more away games than they did at Easter Road.

The competition will be tougher this year, so they will need to see teams off at home if they want to stay out of trouble.