Hibs mentality shift ahead of Celtic Park return revealed as psychologist sessions have Lee Johnson's team believing

Jamie McAllister insists Hibs won’t shrink when they return to the scene of their 6-1 Celtic Park drubbing tomorrow - thanks to regular sessions with a psychologist.

That October Parkhead pounding had manager Lee Johnson accusing players of being BRAINWASHED into thinking they can’t beat the Old Firm. But assistant boss McAllister is adamant that’s not the case this time round after regular sessions with sports therapist Don MacNaughton bolstered belief in the fourth-placed Hibees.

McAllister has felt both sides of the coin as an opposition player at Parkhead himself - having been thumped 7-0 and 6-0 with Aberdeen under Ebbe Skovdahl before coming away with a 2-0 victory on his last appearance in the east end of Glasgow with Hearts in April 2005. Now, as he prepares to head back to face Celtic with the other side of the Edinburgh divide, the 44-year-old said those sessions with MacNaughton and a seven-game unbeaten run in the league prior to the 4-1 defeat to Rangers last time out has got Hibs hungry to make their mark.

He said: “Confidence has definitely grown since then. There’s belief in the squad, there’s a stronger mentality and that comes off the back of wins and a bit of psychology. We’ve had Donald MacNaughton in helping with the psychological side of it.

“We separate the groups, do it as a group or as individuals. It’s up to the lads if they want to take it or not. It’s definitely something the group has got better at. The mentality is there. So we are in a better place than we were back then. But it comes down to when you step across that white line.”

McAllister acknowledged he’s suffered “one or two scuddings with Aberdeen” at Parkhead. But recalling the 2-0 victory over Martin O’Neill’s Hoops - a side