Lennon admits Mcginn is ‘unsettled’
● Boss confirms Hibs have rejected second Celtic bid for star midfielder
Hibernian manager Neil Lennon concedes the uncertainty regarding the future of John Mcginn is ‘unsettling’ for the player after Celtic saw a second bid for the Scotland inter nationalist rejected.
Lennon confirmed that an offer had been rebuffed yesterday afternoon and indicated that the onus was now on the Scottish champions to meet the valuation that Easter Road chiefs has placed on their prize asset.
Although the Northern Irishman is honest enough to acknowledge that the furore would effect any player, Lennon fully intends to field Mcginn against NSI Runavik when Hibs embark on their Europa League campaign at Easter Road this evening.
Indeed, he reckons getting out on the grass will be the best thing for the combative midfielder amid the transfer circus.
“Of course it is unsettling for the player,” said Lennon. “This is football, and you can’t stop progress, but all the speculation is not an easy thing for him to deal with. We just need to manage him as best we can until it’s resolved one way or the other. The best thing for him is to play. I’ve seen no illeffects.
“He was excellent on Sunday [against Blackburn] and played well at Lin lit hg ow. He has a bit of a dead leg but trained well on Wednesday and is available for Runavik. You would need to ask Celtic if it’s inevitable that John will go. We’ve had two bids in, which have not been accepted by the club. There’s been communication and I think Celtic are aware of what we value John at – they haven’t met that.”
There have been suggestions that Scott Allan, who excelled on loan at Easter Road last season in his second spell at the club, could be used as a makeweight in the deal. However, Lennon added bluntly: “Scott Allan hasn’t been mentioned in the talks.”
There could be a competitive de but for Stevie Mall an, pictured, this evening following his £175,000 capture from Barnsley. contrary to suggestions that he could be a ready-made replacement for Mcginn, the Hibs gaffer is adamant he is the successor to another Scotland internationalist who recently departed Easter Road. “He is not a replacement for John. He is a player much more in the mould of [Dylan] Mcgeouch,” added Lennon. “It was obvi- ously a blow to lose Dylan, but I knew Stevie could come in and really add to our midfield.”
Lennon is hopeful Mall an can use his spell at Hibs to kick-start his career following a miserable stint at Oakwell that saw him restricted to just nine appearances last season. “It is easy to say in hind - sight that Stevie went down south when he was too young ,” continued Lennon, who confirmed that the club are no closer to signing Daryl H organ from Preston.
“But, when a chance like that comes along, you’re always going to take it.
“Sometimes, there can be things going on behind the scenes and the club might not quite be how it seems when it’s
“You would need to ask Celtic if it’s inevitable that Mcginn will go. We’ve had two bids in, which have not been accepted by the club”
sold to you. But it hasn’t affected his confidence..”
As Hibsemb ark on their Europa League adventure against Faroese par t-timers Runavik, Lennon has left no stone unturned as he ambitiously targets the group phase – a stage no team outwith Celtic and Rangers has reached since Aberdeen in 2007/08.
“We have had Run avikscou ted. Mi key and Garry went out to see them a couple of weeks ago - planes, trains and automobiles!” smiled Lennon. “We won’t be taking anything for granted. The objective is to try to reach the group stage. We earned the right to be here with how we did last season and the incentive is not to waste all of that hard work.”