POINTS TO PROVE

Neil Lennon is looking forward to his side returning to competitive football this week

- PAUL CUDDIHY

NEIL Lennon has a wealth of experience from many years in football as a player and manager. It has equipped him to deal with the myriad of challenges that crop up in the game, often unannounced and unexpected.

These past few months have already been unprecedented, with the postponement of football during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the game only now emerging tentatively for the new season, with supporters still having to watch from afar as games are played behind closed doors.

Yet, even the Celtic manager had to admit the past 10 days have been challenging, with his team’s fixtures against St Mirren and Aberdeen postponed in the wake of Boli Bolingoli breaching the protocols in place within the professional game.

The Belgian defender had travelled to Spain last week, neglecting to inform the club on his return, not quarantining for 14 days as was required and then playing in the 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

For Neil Lennon and his squad of players, the disruption to the start of the season has been frustrating, but the focus now is on returning to action and getting back to winning ways.

First up was KR Reykjavik in a one-off UEFA Champions League qualifier at Celtic Park on Tuesday night, and that will be followed to a trip to Tannadice this Saturday to take on newly-promoted Dundee United.

“What this time has done is given us a few more days to work on the training ground and get the players that little bit sharper and a little bit fitter,” the Hoops boss told the Celtic View, “and basically we’re just looking forward to getting back to playing again.