Stephen McManus enhanced his case for an elusive Scotland call-up by marching Celtic 15 points clear of Hearts at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with a second-half winner against Hibernian at Easter Road.

The defender celebrated his new two-year contract with a vital sixth goal of the season after Shaun Maloney’s penalty cancelled out Derek Riordan’s spectacular free-kick.

Hibernian goalkeeper Simon Brown was sent off for handling the ball outside the area but his replacement Zbigniew Malkowski later made a brilliant penalty save to deny Maloney his second goal of the game.

But McManus was the hero, ironically while up against Scotland defender Gary Caldwell, who he will fight with for a place in the Hoops side next season.