Lennon delight at ‘unique presence’ of Forster back at Hoops

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon is delighted to have the “unique presence” of Fraser Forster at his disposal again.

Lennon brought in Forster on a season-long loan from Southampton after discovering Scott Bain was facing four-to-six weeks out with a dislocated thumb.

Craig Gordon comfortably kept a clean sheet in Celtic’s 2-0 Europa League play-off win over AIK last night but the Scotland goalkeeper now faces a fight to keep his place for Sunday’s visit of Hearts.

Lennon said: “We were a goalkeeper down and the opportunity came about to get Fraser back. I am delighted we have acquired his services.

“He is an outstanding goalkeeper so I have three outstanding goalkeepers now and it’s a department that is very important. We have strong competition and that’s what I want.

“He has missed out on a little bit of football in the last year or so but we know of his talent. He had an outstanding time here, he is a Premier League goalkeeper and is itching to play.

“He gives you t hat presence in goal which is unique. He was outstanding for me the first time and I hope he replicates that the second time.”

Gordon did not have much to do as Celtic kept a clean sheet with new signing Christopher Jullien at the heart of their defence.

The £7 million summer signing from Toulouse got a taste of the pressures of playing for Celtic over the past week with the fallout over their Champions League exit continuing but he welcomed the challenge after the game.

Jullien, who was not involved in the costly home defeat by Cluj, said: “I knew Celtic was a big, big team, I knew it before.

“It was really important to keep a clean sheet at home and we did.

“We need that European challenge and I have trust in the team.”

Fraser Forster has rejoined Celtic on a season loan.