Oriel old boy Lennon can’t wait to face the Lilywhites

IT’S not very often that Irish clubs come up against their former players in European competition but that’s a scenario that will befall Dundalk on Wednesday night when Steven Lennon returns to Oriel Park with FH Hafnarfjarðar.

By his own admission the Scottish striker didn’t have the most productive of spells after joining the Lilywhites from Rangers in July 2010.

He made his debut for Dundalk six years ago this week in the Europa League tie away to Levski Sofia on July 15th 2010. It was a 6-0 hammering for a side then managed by Ian Foster but Lennon showed his potential with a cracking shot in the second half that came off the underside of the crossbar.

A league debut came soon after in a 3-0 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic but a foot injury picked up soon after meant he never really got a chance to show what he could do.

In total he would manage just 10 appearances for Dundalk before departing without a goal to his name at the end of that campaign.

In the intervening years, the former Scottish U-21 international has found his way to Scandinavia where he has really found his feet.

In his debut season with FH in 2014 he scored seven goals in 12 appearances in all competitions while last year he was the club’s leading marksman en route to his first league title with the club as he scored 17 goals in 31 appearances, including nine in the league – a figure only bettered by two others.

Lennon has continued that trend into 2016 with seven goals from 19 appearances to date. Having failed to score at Oriel from his time there six years ago, the 28-year-old is now determined to score against his former club when he returns to the Carrick Road venue this week.

‘I can’t wait for the game,’ he told The Argus this week.

‘Even if it wasn’t against Dundalk, it’s still special to be playing in the Champions League but the fact it’s against my old club makes it that bit more special.

‘I didn’t score during my time at the club, which remains a disappointment, but hopefully I can get a goal at Oriel for once this week.’

Lennon said he was disappointed not to have contributed more during his time with Dundalk but hopes to show Lilywhites supporters his true potential on over the course of the two legs this week and next.

‘I came over in July 2010 but after two or three games I got injured but I never really got started again after that and only made a few more appearances off the bench.

‘It wasn’t the best of times for me but now I am fully fit and I think I’m showing that I am a good player.

‘There were a good few injuries that season to the likes of myself, Stephen Maher and Alan Cawley. I don’t know if that was down to the surface or not but I know Mahersy hated it.

‘From my point of view I was disappointed with how things went on the pitch for me for Dundalk but I really enjoyed my time in Ireland apart from that and met a good few friends.

‘I’ve kept in touch with a few lads over the years such as Ciaran Callan and Maxi and I also hope to meet up with Stephen Maher when I’m over because I’m still in contact with him quite a bit.’

After leaving Oriel Park at the end of the 2010 campaign, Lennon joined former coach Wayne Hatswell at Newport County where he was also joined by Tom Miller. After just three months with the Welsh outfit, he opted to try his luck abroad and signed for Icelandic outfit Fram Reykjavik, who Dundalk beat in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in September 1981.

While his spell there was without honours, the 5ft 8in forward made a name for himself in Iceland with 17 goals in 43 appearances.

That led him to sign for Norwegian outfit Sandnes Ulf in July 2013.

‘I was one season there but I was played out of position and the coach was very defensive so I asked to leave. That’s when the move to FH came about and I’ve loved my time here since then.’

A league title with the club was the icing on the cake last season and Lennon feels that the winner of this tie has a real chance of pushing for a place in the Europa League.

‘There’s a massive incentive for both clubs to win. I think both teams will fancy themselves to get through and then you have a very real chance of getting a shot at a Europa League play-off.’

While familiar with the League of Ireland, Lennon admits he knows very little about the current Dundalk team. That hasn’t stopped him doing some research though.

‘I can’t remember if I played against any of the current team or not. I always looked for their results after I left but Richie Towell was the only player I’d have known because he was at Celtic.

‘I’ve spoken to a few former players though about the current side so I’ve an idea of their qualities.

‘Our aim is to get an away goal on Wednesday similar to the game we won in Finland against Erkanas in 2013. I scored the free kick that night but I expect it to be a close game on Wednesday and a difficult match overall.’

Lennon was surprised to hear that the surface at Oriel Park is the exact same one he played on six years ago but doesn’t think it will pose a problem for FH Hafnarfjarðar on Wednesday.

‘In winter we train indoors a lot at some of the surfaces are a little old so we would be used to it. It’ll be the same for both teams.’

Despite only managing a draw with 10 man Vikingur Reykjavik on Saturday, FH will have a full squad to choose from barring any last minute injuries sustained when they train at Oriel Park tonight (Tuesday).

‘I don’t know if our eyes were already on the Champions League during that game but it’ll be a different attitude on Wednesday. We were fortunate to get ourselves 2-1 in front late on but we just didn’t play to our capabilities.

‘We’ll have a full squad to choose from though and I think we’ll show our qualities. Our captain David Vidarsson is our playmaker and hopefully he can dictate play in the tie while I would be our main threat in terms of assists and goals. A bit like Dundalk though, we’re very much a team unit and hopefully that will stand to us over the two legs,’ he said.

With many Dundalk fans heading to Iceland for the return leg on Wednesday week, Lennon insists those travelling won’t be disappointed by a country still on a high from their Euro 2016 exploits, including that memorable victory over England.

‘It has been crazy over here,’ laughed Lennon.

‘There was something like 10% of the population in France and everyone is still buzzing from beating one of the biggest footballing nations in the country. I was a bit jealous actually because Scotland weren’t even there but I have an Icelandic girlfriend and we have a six month old son who is Icelandic so it was a proud moment.

‘Any fans who make the trip won’t be disappointed. They’ll probably stay in Reykjavik and they’ll love it because it’s quite touristy and there is plenty to see and do.

‘There’s plenty of pubs too,’ he laughed, ‘while the city is only about 20 minutes from our ground so you can just hop on a bus or into a taxi to get there.’

Dundalk fans will be hoping the tie is still alive by the time the trip to Iceland comes around. Lennon is a man on a mission to make things as a difficult as possible for his former club though. He has never scored at Oriel Park before and Stephen Kenny’s side will be happy if that’s a stat that remains intact come 10pm on Wednesday.