Lennon touched by fans display
Celtic skipper Neil Lennon has thanked the club’s supporters for making him feel loved again.
The combative midfielder endured a frustrating and testing month on the sidelines having been hit by a three-match ban by the Scottish Football Association for his Old Firm red card following Celtic’s 3-1 defeat to Rangers.
Lennon was criticised and some questioned whether manager Gordon Strachan should strip him of the captaincy.
But fans in the Jock Stein Stand marked his return to the Hoops against Hearts on Saturday by holding aloft cards in his honour which touched the 34-year-old.
“The card display was fantastic,” enthused Lennon.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before and I can’t thank them enough for doing that.
“Without a doubt their support has been invaluable because there seems to be a growing campaign amongst some people to stick the boot in so coming back to that it doesn’t half give you a lift and makes you still feel part of it.”
The former Leicester favourite was unable to repay them with a victory that would have taken Celtic level with Hearts at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
But Lennon claims Celtic – and not champions Rangers – are still the team the Edinburgh side have to beat to claim the title.
He added: “Now teams are coming with a bit more confidence but I still think we’re the team to beat.”
But Lennon was impressed with Hearts and believes they will be challenging them at the end of the campaign.
He continued: “They are definitely championship contenders and are the first team to come and take points off us in the league at Celtic Park.”
Strachan, meanwhile, has cleared Didier Agathe of any wrongdoing after the 30-year-old complained at being left on the sidelines despite recovering from injury.
Agathe, whose contract expires in the summer, is frustrated at his failure to get back into the side.
But Strachan said: “I’ve not got a problem with anyone going public with their thoughts as long as the thoughts are not critical of the club, players or myself.
“Didier has voiced feelings – not so much an opinion – but more his feelings on the subject when asked because he’s a friendly guy and if somebody asks his feelings he’ll give him them.
“As far as I’m concerned he hasn’t done anything wrong because he wasn’t critical of anybody at the club.
“When you actually read his comments then they’re not a worry.”
Aiden McGeady and David Marshall have also recently aired their grievances at their lack of first-team football but Strachan claims such comments are expected.
He told the Celtic View: “They’ve done everything right. If people ask their opinions or feelings they will give their opinions and feelings.
“Everyone has done it without being critical of the club, their team-mates or myself so I’ve not got a problem with that.
“When you read what’s said, it’s everything that you would expect from a player who is not in the side. It’s nothing new.”
