LENNON IS ASTUTE AS HE RECRUITS
NEIL LENNON might be forced to construct half a team from off the shelf this summer.
But Darren Jackson reckons the Hibs boss is just the man for the Leith supermarket sweep.
The Easter Road outfit could be forced to shop for a new midfield as they are sweating on out-of-contract Dylan McGeouch, borrowed Scott Allan is back at Celtic and John McGinn remains a man in demand.
Up front loan stars Jamie Maclaren and Florian Kamberi are set to check out with no guarantees Lenny will be able to bag the pair again for next season.
The potential clear-out would send most bosses off their trolly but Jackson believes the Hibs manager is a master when it comes to picking up bargains.
Lennon saw stars such as Aiden McGeady and Artur Boruc depart Celtic when he was in charge at Parkhead but managed to replace them with the likes of Gary Hooper, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster.
And Jackson is convinced his old club won’t be a basket case if Lennon needs to go on a shopping spree.
He said: “Dylan is out of contract and Scott is a loan but it should be a compliment when people want your players.
“If players do well it attracts bigger clubs. It won’t faze Lenny.
“Would he be disappointed if they left? Yes. But he has been through it before.
“You just have to make sure your recruitment is right. It is frustrating but it happens at every level.”
Jackson has faith in Lennon’s dealings but he admitted Kamberi should be top of the shopping list.
The striker has one year left on his deal with Grasshoppers and the Swiss side want weighed in rather than allow another loan move with English outfits Sunderland and Sheffield United poised to open their wallets.
Jackson said: “Kamberi has been fantastic.
“He’s a good size and works extremely hard and he’d be a fantastic signing.
“The boy Maclaren doesn’t do a lot in games but he scores goals and makes great runs.
“Again Hibs’ midfield is great b ecause Dylan sits and lets John and Scott play. Kamberi links and then Maclaren runs across the line.
“It was great the way it worked together.
“Scott has great ability. The games I watched him in he was outstanding.”