Neil Lennon challenges Celtic to improve

Scott Brown and Neil Lennon with the SPL trophy at Parkhead in May. Picture: Robert Perry

Given that bookmakers are offering odds of 1/40 on Celtic defending their title crown this season, it is easy to wonder whether the Parkhead side might be lacking something in motivation on the eve of a new campaign.

However, manager Neil Lennon yesterday challenged his side to improve on last season’s performance, when they finished 16 points ahead of runners-up Motherwell. He thinks this is possible, despite the loss of two of the best players in his squad. Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper have both departed for the Premier League in England.

Lennon has looked to replace the loss of such influential members of the team with a raft of new signings, the latest of whom trained for the first time at Lennoxtown yesterday.

Derk Boerrigter, who has joined from Ajax, is included in the squad for the match against Ross County this evening, as Celtic kick-off their league campaign at the unusual time of 5.15pm. Extra motivation will come from the knowledge that Celtic only managed to beat County once in four meetings last season.

Lennon said that Boerrigter was “in line” to start today. This should not provide a problem for a player whose high confidence levels have already been noted. “Well, he is Dutch isn’t he?” smiled the manager. “He is looking good,” he added. “We are excited about that one. It gives the squad some freshness and gives the team a bit of a jag.”

Lennon also expects his established players to kick on this season. James Forrest’s progress has been hampered by injury and the manager is eager to see the winger put together a run of appearances in what he hopes will be a front-line that can stretch defences.