IT would be a rare footballer who would concede to feelings of trepidation ahead of any forthcoming fixture, regardless of the calibre of opposition. Licking their lips at the challenge, no matter how David and Goliath it may be, is always the default position.

Yet when Hibs midfielder Joe Newell suggested in the aftermath of Saturday’s 3-0 win over a limp St Mirren side that he was eagerly anticipating next Sunday’s game against Rangers at Easter Road, there was a feeling there was genuine substance to his intrigue.

This might well be seen as a test for a Hibs side who currently separate Rangers and Celtic at the top of the table, albeit that the Parkhead side could rectify that if they win their two games in hand. On current evidence the expectation is that it will also offer a fairly robust examination of Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side, a team who are yet to lose a goal in seven league outings so far this term.

Hibs, though, need no inferiority complex given the impressive start they have made.

Five wins of their own have taken them within three points of Rangers, with a defeat to Aberdeen courtesy of a penalty the only blip on their record. A 100% away record is an enviable stat while only three goals have been lost so far.

“We’ve had a very good start and the way we are playing at the minute, with our defensive record, there’s no reason for us to fear anyone and we definitely won’t,” said Newell.

“Obviously we know the threats they’ve got and the quality they have but I think we’ve shown enough that we can be feared as well.  It should be a good game.

“It’s that winning mentality and the momentum you gain. Obviously they have that as well as they’ve started the season well. But we’re going in with plenty of confidence.”

Newell himself seems to epitomise the confidence within the Easter Road side. He netted the second goal of the afternoon in Paisley, sandwiched between an opener from Kevin Nisbet and a third from Martin Boyle after emergency loanee Bobby Zlamal showed his rustiness and lack of game time.

For all that Zlamal was thrown in at the deep end and was trying to learn the names of the back four in front him just as he was putting on his gloves, there was a feeling given the authority with which Hibs played that the outcome would have been the same, regardless of the personnel issues with the three quarantined St Mirren keepers.

There was a fluidity to the performance and most notable is the balance that Jack Ross has created within the side. Alex Gogic’s industry and steel has supplemented a backline that looks solid, albeit that there were few genuine questions asked of them on Saturday.

Jamie Murphy on the flank is a willing and creative outlet in terms of always getting the ball forward while in Nisbet and Boyle there are always going to be goals. Newell was the best player on the park and is relishing the opportunity to orchestrate things from the central pastures rather than being out wide, where Paul Heckingbottom was playing him this time a year ago.

“I’m playing more central now which I prefer," he said. "That’s definitely more my natural position.  It’s where I grew up as a kid playing. I think that’s why the manager is now getting the best out of me.  

“If you look at my performances when I played wide compared with centrally there’s a bit of a difference you could probably say.” 

In sharp contrast to the upbeat vibe from Leith, is the frustration in Paisley. Jim Goodwin was furious at being told to fulfil the fixture despite having lost all three first-team goalkeepers to Covid-19 but it was nothing to his frustration at the way his side were overpowered by Hibs.

Saints have not won in their last three games and are expected to play Celtic on Wednesday evening, a fixture that could rub salt in the wounds given that it is a re-arranged encounter after Boli Bolingoli’s Spanish day trip.

Veteran Paisley midfielder Sam Foley admitted he wanted the game to go ahead and was reluctant to point the finger at Zlamal for the defeat.

“It’s maybe not my best place to say,” said Foley. “But personally I wanted it to go ahead as I just wanted to play. Overcoming these things….you get an opportunity to put these things right on the pitch. But on Saturday we just weren’t up to it.

“We will review our performance further and try to figure out a gameplan for playing Celtic.

“I don’t see the goalkeeper thing as an excuse at all. Bobby is a good keeper and has proved that he can play at this level. As a team we just weren’t good enough on Saturday.”