CONTRACT FOR ISRAELI IS NIR.. AND YET SO FAR

NIR BITTON is praying Peter Lawwell rubber stamps a new Celtic deal so he can keep stockpiling silverware.

The versatile midfielder came off the bench in Sunday’s Betfred Cup final win to bag his 14th winners’ medal in just over six years at Parkhead.

Bitton (right) has battled back from a career-threatening cruciate injury and he is determined to secure a new contract.

Boss Neil Lennon has admitted he’s keen to extend the Israeli international’s current deal and the 28-year-old is hoping the Celtic board give it the green light.

Bitton said: “It’s something you need to ask Peter Lawwell instead of me but I love this club and I want to stay. I’m settled here, my kids live here, so we’ll see.”

The midfielder-turned-defender kept his cool after going on for the final 25 minutes after Celtic went down to 10 men following Jeremie Frimpong’s red card.

And he admitted the latest medal could be the sweetest following his injury hell.

Bitton said: “You appreciate these moments. I’ve been out for too long and I can’t lie, it hurt me when I saw the team out celebrating all these trophies.

“You always fear the worst when you suffer these kinds of injuries. There was a moment I was down and saying to myself my career could be finish.

“I cherish this one and just want to continue winning medals with this club. I can’t even remember how many

I have now – but it’s a lot.

You never tire of winning and it’s especially sweet when the odds are against us.”