CELTIC’S meetings with Hibernian made for compelling viewing last season and Saturday’s encounter at Parkhead was no different.

Brendan Rodgers’s team ran out deserved winners over Neil Lennon’s side in what was one of the most entertaining fixtures of the Scottish football season so far.

They moved into second spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership three points behind Hearts – who they play in the Betfred Cup semi-final at Murrayfield on Sunday - as a result.

SO ARE CELTIC GETTING BACK TO THEIR BEST?

The Scottish champions’ distinctly underwhelming form in the opening weeks of the season had led to predictions, including from the more pessimistic among their own support, that their unprecedented period of domestic dominance was set to come to an end.

However, their overall display against Hibs on Saturday was another significant stride in the right direction 13 days after their emphatic defeat of St Johnstone in Perth.

It was by no means perfect. Craig Gordon did well to deny Stevie Mallan and Martin Boyle in quick succession before half-time. The goalkeeper was then unable to prevent Florian Kamberi and Boyle from scoring in the second-half. The home team’s defensive lapses meant the closing stages were far more fraught for them than they should have been.

Yet, there was much for Rodgers to be encouraged by elsewhere. Callum McGregor deputised for Scott Brown, who hobbled off injured midway through the first-half, in the deep-lying midfield role ably. Alongside him, Olivier Ntcham excelled. And ahead of that pair James Forrest and Tom Rogic were outstanding.

But it was up front where Rodgers will have been most heartened. Odsonne Edouard, his club record £9 million summer signing, went eight weeks without scoring in August and September. The French forward, though, helped himself to a second-half double on Saturday. And it could have been more. He struck the woodwork twice. He has now netted four times in his last three games.

The 20-year-old, who took his tally for the 2018/19 campaign to eight in all competitions against Hibs, will grow in confidence as a result of his personal contribution on Saturday. Opposition defenders should beware.

HAS HIBS’ BUBBLE BURST?

Not really. The capital club were certainly nowhere near as good as they have been in recent weeks and could, despite Neil Lennon’s deep unhappiness at many of the match official’s decisions, have few complaints about the final outcome. But they had a collective off day at the weekend. They showed their opponents way too much respect. It was most unlike them.

Hibs, however, still fought back in the second-half and scored two fine goals through Kamberi and Boyle. They went down fighting. Their positive response to falling two goals behind twice – they trailed by 2-0 and 3-1 – suggests they will not fall away easily. They remain just five points off top spot after suffering only their second defeat in nine league games.

Their next match, the first Edinburgh derby of the season against league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday week, promises to be a cracker.

WERE HIBS PLAYING "AGAINST 12 MEN"?

Not at all. Referee Don Robertson booked Brown of Celtic and Darren McGregor of Hibs within the first five minutes for fouls on Emerson Hyndman and James Forrest respectively. He then let Stevie Mallan away with a challenge on Olivier Ntcham that was every bit as bad if not worse.

Mallan was later yellow carded. He could, then, consider himself lucky to remain on the park. Rodgers would doubtless have had a few words about that if his side had failed to emerge triumphant.

Lennon was incensed that Filip Benkovic went unpunished after taking out Hyndman. He claimed his men had been "playing against 12 men". But the decisions levelled themselves out over the course of what was a hugely entertaining and incident-packed encounter.

CAN CELTIC GET A RESULT AGAINST RB LEIPZIG?

They will certainly kick off the game in the Red Bull Arena in a far more positive frame of mind after another vastly-improved showing and an important win that moved them into second spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

But taking on the Bundesliga club away in the Europa League will, no disrespect to Hibs, be a significant step up for Celtic. If Brown, whose injury is currently being assessed by club medical staff, is ruled out it will hamper their chances of recording their first victory ever on Germany soil considerably. His presence was badly missed in their previous Group B game against Salzburg in Austria at the start of the month.

In McGregor, though, they have a capable individual who can fill the considerable left by his captain in the middle of the park. It will be a tall order for him to start there against such formidable adversaries on Thursday. But he has a wealth of European experience and enjoys the challenge of playing in different positions. Anything is possible.

IS MCGREGOR THE NEW BROONY?

Why not? Rodgers was effusive in his praise of the Scotland internationalist after his showing in central midfield at the weekend. He feels his young protégé’s knack of not giving away possession make him ideally suited to the role.

Brown is 33 now and is not, no matter how hard it may be for Celtic supporters to accept, going to carry on forever. Perhaps his team mate is the man who can take over from him. If he is given the nod to continue in central midfield against Leipzig how he fares will go a long way towards determining if his future lies there.