KEEP FIGHTING
Lennon praying for his stricken pal McNamara
NEIL LENNON last night revealed he has been left ‘devastated’ by the news his former Celtic team-mate Jackie McNamara is fighting for his life.
McNamara collapsed outside his York home on Saturday after suffering a bleed on the brain.
The 46-year-old was transferred to a hospital in Hull, where he underwent emergency surgery on Monday. He remains in a stable but critical condition, but is understood to have been communicating with family and medical staff after responding well to treatment.
Detained in intensive care, family, friends, colleagues and supporters have united in support of the former Scotland international, with an emotional Lennon almost lost for words yesterday.
‘I don’t know what to say, really,’ said the Celtic manager. ‘I spoke to Jackie as recently as Tuesday at a development game. I’m just devastated by the news. I’m really hoping he pulls through.
‘He’s stable but critical, but it’s come as a huge shock to everybody. He’s my friend — and he has been for 20 years.
‘I know Sam (McNamara’s wife) and the family
very well. Him and Sid (former Celtic player Simon Donnelly) are so close, as we all were as a group under Martin (O’Neill) for a long, long time and still are. ‘We’re just praying he pulls through.’ McNamara won four league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups during a ten-year spell as a Celtic player. Now working as a player agent, the former Dunfermline and Wolves defender represents Parkhead stars Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor along with Hearts defender John Souttar and recently opened a sports bar in Fuengirola with close pal Donnelly. ‘It just shows you,’ added Lennon. ‘Your health is your wealth at the end of the day. This has come out of nowhere and could happen to anybody. ‘I just hope to god he comes through for us all. Jackie was hard as nails as a player. ‘He was a tough tackler, consistent, versatile. He had a really bad injury but, before then, he was absolutely flying. ‘But he was an important team-mate and was player of the year here a couple of times. He was a top quality player and a pretty good manager, but more than that, he’s a brilliant boy.’ Speaking as he prepared for tonight’s home Premiership clash with Hearts, Lennon (pictured with McNamara) welcomed news of an imminent return to fitness for defensive trio Hatem Abd Elhamed, Nir Bitton and Jeremie Frimpong. ‘Hatem and Bitton have trained in the last couple of days,’ he said. ‘Hearts might be too soon for them but we’ll have a look for the weekend. Frimpong will hopefully train on Thursday. It would be great for us to have them back.’ Boasting a 100-percent record since returning to action after the winter break, the Parkhead boss said he has no idea which Hearts side will turn up tonight, with the Gorgie outfit still bottom of the league despite improvements under Daniel Stendel. ‘We have to assume we’ll face the Hearts team that beat Rangers. They have a high calibre of player,’ stated Lennon. ‘They had a good window. Liam Boyce is a good striker. We all know about Steven Naismith. (Craig) Halkett and Souttar are very good centre-halves. ‘They are a strong side and their league position is a bit of a misnomer. The result against Rangers might have been a surprise when you look at the form, but Tynecastle is always a difficult venue. ‘You can see they are working at pressing and there’s more energy about them. ‘That’s their only win in seven, so they have been inconsistent. ‘I think Daniel is still trying to find the right permutations but we have to concentrate on our own game.’