Champions League big priority for Celtic boss

NEIL LENNON insists that qualification for the group stage of the Champions League is not of secondary importance to completing nine-in-a-row. Forced to compete in the Europa League under Brendan Rodgers last year, Lennon hopes to oversee a return to the business end of the continent’s premier competition at the first time of asking. Celtic take a 5-0 first-leg lead to Estonia where they face Nomme Kalju on Tuesday before the curtain comes up on the league campaign with a home game against St Johnstone on Saturday. Given the historical significance of potentially matching the feat of Jock Stein’s all-conquering side between 1966 and 1974, some Celtic fans would gladly forgo a seat at

Europe’s top table if it meant winning a ninth title. Hitting for six the notion Europe is somehow overshadowed by the desire to win the league, Lennon said: ‘It’s not any less important for me and not for the players. ‘We’re giving it full throttle at the minute. ‘I know the league kicks-off next Saturday and we will prepare properly for that. But we are giving Europe a lot of our attention and a lot of detail. ‘There’s a different feeling in the Champions League compared with the Europa. ‘People are maybe not too sure about it. There doesn’t seem to be that desperation at the minute but the minds of some fans might be on other things.’ Meanwhile, Scott Sinclair is a £2.5million target for Preston. The winger recently signed a one-year extension to his deal at Celtic but has found himself on the periphery of Lennon’s squad so far this season. The 30-year-old was a revelation immediately after signing for £3.5m from Aston Villa under Brendan Rodgers in 2016 but has struggled to maintain those standards.