Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard has warned Brendan Rodgers' side that they need to respect Hibs as genuine title challengers. Neil Lennon's team are currently second in the table behind Hearts after an impressive start to the season and Edouard has insisted that they will not be taken lightly by Celtic.

“Hibs are a very good team,” Edouard told this week’s Celtic View. “I have realised this from playing them since I’ve been at Celtic. They are good enough to be competing for the title.

“If we want to win the league this season, then this is the kind of opponent we have to beat. It’s a good challenge for us to see if we can keep our momentum in the league.

“It’s a good time to play against Hibs given our last game against St Johnstone. At the same time, it’s a different game. Every game is different and this is a completely different opponent." The Frenchman, though, has insisted that Celtic need to pick up where they left off before the international break if they are to get the better of Hibs.

n the five meetings that Celtic had against Lennon's side last season the Parkhead side won two, drew two and lost one, suggesting that it will not be a straightforward afternoon tomorrow. What may work in Celtic's favour is the style of football Hibs will look to play with the East Road side keen to attack rather than sit deep as so many visiting teams often do. That should lend itself to an open game with Edouard keen to make the most of it.

they need to pick up where they left off if they are to get the better of Hibs tomorrow afternoon. Neil Lennon's side were difficult opponents for the Parkhead side last term and go into the game on the back of an impressive start to the season. And 20-year-old striker Edouard believes that it is imperative that Celtic reproduce a performance in keeping with the one they put in at McDiarmid Park before the international break when they beat St Johnstone 6-0. “They are second in the league for a reason so we need to come into the game focused and play with the same intensity as we did in the last game," Edouard told the Celtic View. "If we do that and stay focused, then we know we can come away as winners.”

Celtic captain Scott Brown is expected to be available for the game after missing the last two matches with a hamstring strain. The midfielder expected to be back in contention for a start against Hibs after taking himself out of the fray in order to avoid aggravating the slight pull. That should also mean that he gets some game time before Thursday night's Europa League tie against RB Liepzig in Germany.