DON’T BE COUNTING GRIFF OUT

Partick Thistle Today, 5.30pm

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Celtic

NEIL LENNON is set to hand Leigh Griffiths the chance to kickstart his Celtic career tonight after slapping down talk of a loan switch.

The Hoops boss this week snapped up £3.5m striker Patryk Klimala (below) sparking suggestions Griffiths was a step closer to a Parkhead exit.

But Lennon insisted the frontman is still firmly part of his plans – and he’s ready to unleash the Scotland star against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup clash at Firhill.

He said: “Everybody is speculating about Griff at the moment but we aren’t in any real rush to look at that.

“We want him to play.

He had a good week in

Dubai and has been training well this week.

“So Griff may start against Partick and I think he’d like to stay as well. He’s never made any intention that he would want to leave.”

New Bhoy Klimala is expected to be on the bench this evening but Celtic are still working on the paper work to get the capture of midfielder Ismaila Soro over the line. The Ivorian is set to land in a £2m move from Israeli outfit Bnei Yehuda but there are issues regarding securing a work permit. Lennon is confident the red tape will be untangled and said: “The deal has been agreed and we’re just waiting on the paperwork being confirmed. I don’t know how long that will take, but hopefully we’ll get him in.

“That’s what we’re working on at the minute, that’s what is going to be the delay I think.”

Soro’s signing will take Celtic’s January spending to £5.5m but Lennon revealed he is still out to land two more new recruits to strengthen his side. Lennon said: “We know the challenges that lie ahead of us, but these boys will give us a bit of depth, a bit of vitality. “We’re looking to bring one or two others in. Sometimes it can make the difference if you get the right ones.”