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DAVID Fernandez still holds out hope of returning to Celtic and making it back into their first team. It's a laudable expectation for the Spaniard but it's fair to say that as time passes the gap between him and a return to Parkhead is getting wider.

The Livingston forward was man of the match against Hibernian but on close inspection one could understand why Martin O'Neill decided he was no longer part of his plans.

He has three years left on his Celtic contract, but the fact he has been allowed to go back to Livingston on loan is a clear indication that the only time he will be returning to Parkhead will be to sit in the away dressing room.

Against Hibs his magicial turns and little flicks were a joy to behold. That was all well and good at that level but it's clear O'Neill would see such antics as a luxury.

Fernandez's crowd-pleasing tricks would not sit well in a disciplined Champions League performance by Celtic. He would probably be clobbered in the first minute, muscled out of game and then left on the periphery of the action.

''I would suggest I will go back as I have three seasons left and many friends at Celtic,'' said Fernandez afterwards. ''Even this season it would have been quite easy for me to stay at Celtic but players want to play and that's why I came here. I am getting back to my best and my confidence is good.''

At this level Fernandez will always shine. His performance was one of the few bright lights in a game which was Davie Hay's first as caretaker manager for Livingston.

Appointing him full-time would be a popular choice that would be welcomed by the players, who were superb against a dismal Hibs team going from bad to worse.

The two goals from Derek Lilley which won the game for Livingston came about through a mixture of marvellous link-up play coupled with dreadful defending from Hibs. Centre-back Colin Murdock, in particular, looks out of his depth. For the first Livingston goal Fernandez took the ball off the Northern Ireland internationalist in the centre of the pitch before releasing Lilley, whose shot squirmed under the body of Hibs goalkeeper Daniel Andersson.

The second with six minutes left was a sublime affair, Fernandez once again beating Murdock to the ball before releasing Lee Makel whose first-time pass found Lilley in space to slot home.

Hibs look like a team lacking in confidence. They are also struggling to score goals, despite their good group of young strikers such as Garry O'Connor, Scott Brown and Tom McManus, who they have been trying to employ as a flying winger.

This is a crucial few weeks for Bobby Williamson, the Hibs coach, as his team have now lost three home games on the trot. Next up at Easter Road are Kilmarnock, followed by a tricky CIS Insurance Cup tie against first division leaders Queen of the South.

Williamson will have to start winning games quickly to get the supporters back on his side as more and more are becoming disgruntled at the lack of progress being made.

Hibs have some good players like Mathias Doumbe in defence and Grant Brebner and Ian Murray in midfield, but lack penetration; also, one can smell the fear when Murdock goes anywhere near the ball.

''Easter Road is a hard place to play when things aren't going right,'' said Williamson after the game, a damning admission of his side. If they are not comfortable playing in front of their own support it's hard to imagine how they would ever cope away from home.

Compare that lack of confidence to the mood in the Livingston camp. The Almondvale players are prepared to take that extra touch to hold the ball up to allow support to come from deep. Of the two teams on show at Easter Road on Saturday it is Livingston who will have the brighter future this season, particularly if Fernandez comes back to top form.