NEIL LENNON has been speaking to the media at Lennoxtown this morning, ahead of the game at Aberdeen on Saturday. The pre-match press conference has been brought forward a day as it’s Billy McNeill’s funeral tomorrow and this morning the club have announced that the funeral mass will be broadcast live on The Celtic Way from 11.30am for the Celtic support, who will be gathering to see Billy go past Celtic Park for one final time around 1.30pm.
Billy McNeill Funeral – Friday May 3, 11:30amhttps://t.co/MyiHy0UowL
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 2, 2019
Lenny opened by mentioning his two nominees for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year Award which will be announced on Sunday night.
“Both Callum and James have had outstanding seasons. It’s no surprise they’re nominated,” Lenny stated, although he admitted that he was surprised that Kristoffer Ajer’s name was missing on the list of nominees for the Young Player of the Year Award.
“I was a little surprised he wasn’t nominated because he’s had a brilliant season. He’s really made that position his own,” Lenny said this morning.
????️ #CelticFC manager Neil Lennon is speaking the media at Lennoxtown this morning to preview #ABECEL and @PFAScotland nominations.
????️ “Both Callum and James have had outstanding seasons. It’s no surprise they’re nominated.” pic.twitter.com/1p8mmpt00x
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 2, 2019
There has been some media speculation about Scotty Sinclair, with the news breaking yesterday that the club had taken up their option on his contract. There was also a suggestion that Middlesbrough were interested and are preparing a £2million bid in the summer. We’ll just have to cross that bridge when and if it happens. As things stand, the Celtic manager confirmed that Sinclair will be a Celtic player next season.
“Scotty will be here for another year. He has returned a lot of goals for us this season yet again and it’s a big boost for the squad,” Lenny said as he confirmed the contract extension had been activated.
There was also some positive news regarding Kieran Tierney who is in line for a surprise return to the starting line-up this weekend, when a point will be enough to ensure that the league is won for the eight consecutive season.
“Kieran is back in training and is in contention to start. We’re just managing him through it right now,” Lenny confirmed. At Easter Road a fortnight ago he was much more downbeat and suggested that the left back’s season could be over and that he might need surgery on his troublesome pelvic problem (it’s not a hip injury!)…
Looking ahead to the game at Pittodrie on Saturday lunchtime, Neil Lennon expects a difficult game against a motivated team. “Aberdeen will be going for 3rd and it’s always a difficult place to go. They’ve given us plenty of problems over the the past couple of seasons and we expect the same.”
He also gave an injury update following last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Kilmarnock which set up this Saturday’s chance to wrap up the title. “No fresh injuries, we came through Kilmarnock unscathed. Odsonne didn’t train yesterday but he’s back in this morning so will be fine,” Lenny revealed.
More to follow on today’s media conference and we’ll post The Celtic TV video for you to watch when it’s available.
