Hibs boss tells players to be ready for a manic month

Hibs boss Neil Lennon has admitted next month's punishing schedule of seven matches will test the strength of his squad, telling his players they'll all have to be ready for a piece of the action.

Neil Lennon is relishing Hibs' tough December run

The gruelling run begins on Saturday as the Capital club travel to face Partick Thistle before they face Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen in the space of six days, matches which could change the look of the top of the Premiership table. The second Edinburgh derby of the season at Tynecastle is then sandwiched between visits from Ross County and Kilmarnock.

Describing December as a “very exciting month”, Lennon said: “We are going to have to rotate the squad at times. We have a very heavy schedule and we just want all the players fit and healthy.

“They have to be ready because they could feature at any time. We are bound to pick up a few knocks and bruises but I think they will all be looking forward to it. But we have a difficult game to negotiate on Saturday before then and that’s what we are all focusing on.”