Goalscorer compared to former striker

Neil Lennon suggested Albian Ajeti has a touch of former Celtic striker Gary Hooper about him after he scored the winner on Saturday.

In the 73rd minute of an absorbing game at Tannadice, the 23-year-old Switzerland international – signed from West Ham for £4.5 million – came off the bench to make his first Premiership appearance for the champions.

And with just seven minutes remaining Ajeti grabbed his first goal in what Parkhead boss Lennon described as a welldeserved 1-0 victory.

He then offered up comparisons with Hooper, who successfully led the line for Celtic between 2010 and 2013.

Lennon told Celtic TV: “We’ve got goal scorers in (Leigh) Griffiths, (Patryk) Klimala is a different type and Odsonne (Edouard) is a different type.

“He’s a bit more like a Hooper-type, that squat sort of build, he’s a good finisher.

“He had a great time of it at Basel, not so much at West Ham, but that happens and it’s a new lease of life for him and he’ll get a real buzz out of what he did on Saturday.”

Lennon praised his side for their relentless pursuit of the breakthrough at Tannadice which sets them up for Wednesday’s Champions League second qualifier against Hungarian side Ferencvaros.

The former Parkhead captain said: “The attitude of the players was absolutely tremendous and you never lose faith in this team. They know how to keep going, they kept patient and they got what they deserved.

“It was a good game, it was feisty, it was mentally challenging for the players and they’ve come through that so, psychologically, it will give them a big lift.”

Albian Ajeti: Debut goal.