HIBERNIAN manager Neil Lennon has not given up hope of retaining the services of Kris Commons, despite the Celtic loanee playing the final match of his four-week emergency loan.

Commons netted the winner in the victory over Dumbarton on Saturday, extending the Edinburgh side’s lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship to six points. Now Lennon has expressed his desire for a longer-term arrangement.

He told HibsTV: “Kris was terrific again. I don’t think he’s ever been 100 per cent fit but he is a great player. His goal was a great finish. It just showed his intelligence and quality.

“If there is something that we can do to keep him here I’d absolutely love to have him here for the rest of the season.”

Commons volleyed home the only goal of the game 14 minutes into the match, the second time across his five-game spell at Hibernian that he has scored the winning goal.

Once a regular in the Celtic side, Commons fell out of favour on occasion under Ronny Deila and has found himself completely left out under Brendan Rodgers.