BOSS SALUTES CAPTAIN
younger players, especially for the ones that have come up, who have had Brendan as their manager from the embryonic time of their careers.
“To not be having that voice any more is obviously going to be a bit strange for them and they might take time to adjust to that.”
Lennon will spend this week on the training pitch putting his own stamp on the side. But he is aware if it ain’t broke it don’t need much fixing.
The returning club hero has been impressed with the changes made by Rodgers over the last couple of years, especially with the development of the players he had during his first spell in charge.
Lenny hailed matchwinners Brown and Forrest at the weekend but he has also been blown away by the progress made by Callum McGregor.
The midfielder is battling back from injury ahead of Aberdeen’s visit this weekend and the manager admitted the Scotland star has come a long way since being farmed out on loan as a kid.
Lennon said: “The way Brendan develops players is a trademark of his managerial abilities and career.
“Callum is a prime example of that, to the point where he is probably Celtic’s most consistent player now.
“He’s had an unbelievable season and I could be doing with him at the minute.
“When he was a young lad he went out on loan to Notts County, he did great.
“Did I see what he was going to become? I wasn’t sure. But credit to him and to the work Brendan and the staff have done with him as well.” McGregor is struggling to be fit for the visit of Derek McInnes’s side but Lennon is just happy to have a few days to catch his breath and get to work with the squad at Lennoxtown. He said: “I want the players to have a rest, mentally and physically, but it was a great way to finish what was a really difficult week for them.” FROM BACK PAGE set to try to persuade out-ofcontract stars Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig to rethink their futures and consider staying at Parkhead.
Griffiths has not featured for the Hoops since early December and has yet to resume training as he battles personal demons away from football.
Lennon has already spoken to the 28-year-old despite being back at Parkhead less than a week and told the frontman, who he signed in January 2014, he still has a big role to play at the club.
Griff dropped a major hint about a return on social media last week when he posted pictures of himself and Lenny along with images of an egg timer.
Record Sport understands there is still work to be done to get him back and Lennon insisted the 100-goal hitman won’t be rushed.
But the manager admitted he’d love to have the striker on board for the run-in.
Lennon said: “The sooner we get Leigh back the better.
“We are keeping tabs on that and want to get him back on the training ground as soon as possible.”
Lennon admitted the club will have to be patient, though, as a Griffiths comeback is not imminent.
He said: “Is he close? Not at the minute, no.
“I don’t know if this season is feasible. We will have to gauge that.” Lennon is getting to work at Lennoxtown and he admitted one of his early tasks will be to attempt to convince stars Boyata and Lustig to stay at Celtic.
The interim boss said: “We will sit down and discuss things.
“If things go well then they are important players. “Boyata was outstanding for me the other night at Hearts.”
Lustig lost his place in the side to on-loan Borussia Dortmund full-back Jeremy Toljan but reclaimed his spot for the 2-0 Scottish Cup win at Easter Road on Saturday.
Lennon said: “I’m not writing Lustig off.”
NEIL LENNON ON CAPTAIN STAYING WITH CELTIC