HE may not even be there come the conclusion of the campaign, but Emerson Hyndman believes Hibernian are title contenders.

The midfielder netted his first goal for the Easter Road club as Hibs trumped Hamilton on Saturday by a margin as wide as the state of Texas from where the US international hails.

If Accies, to use the American parlance, sucked big time, Hibernian were, like, totally awesome. So much so, that, while – understandably considering the last time the Edinburgh club won the league was in 1952 – couching his title talk in realism, the 22-year-old agreed that second-placed Hibernian, two points off Hearts in top spot, can indeed challenge for the Ladbrokes Premiership crown.

“Well, I mean, we’re up there right now,” said Hyndman, who netted the third of six to no reply for Hibs against Hamilton, with Martin Boyle, Stevie Mallan, twice, Florian Kamberi and a Matthew Kilgallon own goal completing the demolition job.

“We’re not looking at the table too much because it only becomes important at the end of the season.

“We know we have to work hard to keep up the form, have to show up every week and put in performances.

“But, if we keep winning games,

I don’t see why not.”

WILL HE BE THERE?

Whether, of course, Hyndman is even with Hibernian come the end of the season is a different matter. Hibs’ No.20, signed as John McGinn was heading down south to Aston Villa, is on loan from Bournemouth until January.

“I couldn’t give you any heads up on what happens then,” said Hyndman.

“At the moment, I’m enjoying myself. Obviously things change, contracts change. Right now, I’m playing every game and trying to help the team. The rest will sort itself out, hopefully.”

SOME OF THE FOOTBALL HIBERNIAN PLAY IS SCINTILLATING

There was a marvellous moment at Neil Lennon’s post-match press conference on Saturday when an interviewer asked the Hibernian manager about the “attacking trio of Hyndman, Mallan…” and then momentarily forgot the name of the third musketeer he felt had put Hamilton to the sword. Lennon, smilingly, jumped in and added the names of Kamberi, then Boyle, and furthermore name-checked Mark Milligan, Efe Ambrose and also goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, who made a fine save from Rakish Bingham at 0-0 as players who contributed to a “complete team performance”. Captain David Gray, a constant threat from right-back, should be wondering were his mention went. But, in all seriousness, it exemplified the depth of not just attacking talent but players with genuine comfort at adeptly passing the ball one-touch at speed. Hibernian were truly a joy to watch.

ASK THE OPPOSITION

It’s always fascinating to hear the thoughts of opposing players on the team they’ve just faced.

If Hyndman was slightly reticent in revealing his thoughts on Hibernian’s title contentions, Hamilton defender Kilgallon was intriguingly emphatic.

“I think they’re contenders,” said the 34-year-old former Leeds United, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers defender, whom Accies signed on deadline day in August. “Every single one of them can play footy and they don’t mind putting the foot in either. They all seem to know how to play – full-backs bombing on and they’re good on the ball. I was very impressed with them. They’d do well in the [English] Championship.”

RANGERS

This is, of course, not Hyndman’s first loan stint in Scottish football. He had a spell in the latter half of the turbulent 2016/17 season at Ibrox, in which he managed four goals under, first Mark Warburton, then Graeme Murty.

Hyndman, however, insisted: “I don’t like to compare because it’s a new experience, a new challenge, new team.

“Rangers is in the past. I enjoyed myself when I was there.

“Coming here [to Hibs}, I have that experience behind me. In this team it’s very easy to feel comfortable.”