Laughter on hold as pals get set for league opener

SAINTS: Wright out to keep good record against Neil Lennon going at Celtic Park

Neil Lennon may now be in charge of a different team but Tommy Wright hopes it will be business as usual from a St Johnstone perspective at Parkhead tomorrow.

The two Northern Irishmen are good pals and enjoyed a game of golf together this summer. There were plenty of laughs but it will be deadly serious between the pair as their respective teams clash in the Premiership opener.

Wright is hoping the Indian sign he held over Lennon when he was Hibs boss will continue now he is back in charge at Celtic. The Saints manager said: “The golf was a friendly game this year. I don’t think we played for money. From what I remember, I think he won.

“It’s always good to meet up with him for a laugh but come Saturday he’ll be desperate to beat me and I’m desperate to beat him.

“I just hope my record against him is the same as it was against Hibs because he couldn’t beat us when he was there and I always reminded him of that!”

Wright, who revealed teenage Saints striker John Robertson had signed a new one-year deal at McDiarmid and joined League 2 newcomers Cove Rangers on a season-long loan, added: “I was thrilled when he got the Celtic job full-time because it’s his dream job.

“He was delighted to get the call to go in as the interim manager and, once he was in again, he was very keen to stay.

“I know from speaking to him over the years he always wanted to go back to Celtic one day. He knows the pressure he’s under but he will be looking forward to it. He will have Celtic fired up to start positively in the league because when you look at Rangers strengthening he knows he’ll have to hit the ground running.”

Meanwhile Scott Brown feels no added pressure as the Hoops chase a recordequalling ninth consecutive title.

The Hoops skipper says he is focusing on his own squad rather than worrying about the opposition and says he is not feeling any added heat.

The 34-year-old said: “There’s pressure always, no matter who we play, what competition it is – cup comps, league games – it’s that pressure we all thrive off.

“People expect us to win, we need to show them we are the best in the Scottish Premiership. We have done that over the last eight seasons and we need to make sure we try to do that again this season.”

Celtic have won the league by nine points in each of the last two seasons, ahead of Aberdeen and then Rangers.

When asked if he expects a stronger challenge, Brown said: “I just look at our squad to be perfectly honest. I try not to worry about everyone else. It’s hard trying to deal with a dressing room of 25-30 people, no matter about worrying about everyone else.

“For me it’s about who is in this dressing room and how we turn up. We have a great bunch and we need to make sure we’ve got good camaraderie on the park as well as in the changing room.

“We have managed to go the last eight seasons which is fantastic for us and we need to push this season the exact same. We will be pushed very, very hard again all the way through but we have the players and a manager who has belief in us as well that we can go and do it.

“There’s always going to be a strong challenge. Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts, they always push us all the way. We are looking forward to that challenge.

“Our main aim just now is to start the league well and try to get Champions League as well.”