NEIL Lennon last night refused to rule out the possibility of Hibernian splitting Celtic and Rangers in the Premiership this season ahead of a match against the Easter Road club at Parkhead tomorrow.

Hibs have started the 2020/21 season impressively by winning five, drawing two and losing just one of their eight league games and are only three points behind leaders Rangers in the top flight table.

Lennon spent two-and-a-half years in the dugout in Leith and appreciates how difficult it will be for the Edinburgh club to finish above one of their Glasgow rivals due to their inferior budget.

Aberdeen were the last team to do so back in the 2017/18 campaign when they pipped Rangers to second spot by three points.

But Lennon feels the problems posed by the coronavirus pandemic this term – matches are being played behind closed doors and last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final and final have still to be played – mean that anything is possible.

“It’s a big ask,” he said. “I think the big two in Glasgow are strong and it’s a long season. But you never know. This is a year that’s unprecedented. So, you can’t predict anything the way things are going this season.”