Celtic interim manager to plead with Robbie Keane to stay at Parkhead next season

The Republic of Ireland striker has scored 12 goals in 12 games since signing on loan from Tottenham in January.

Most people expect Keane to return to London in the summer and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp recently said that there was no chance that his striker would remain at Parkhead.

Ahead of the Active Nation Scottish Cup semi-final against Ross County at Hampden, Keane, not for the first time, skirted around the issue, saying: "From day one I've said that I don't want to speak about it until the end of the season."

However, Celtic interim manager Lennon said earlier this week that he had not given up on Keane, and he revealed yesterday that he will use some serious persuasion to convince the former Liverpool striker to extend his stay in the east end of Glasgow.

"I'm not giving up on him staying," Lennon said. "It will ultimately be Robbie's decision but I will be begging him every day from here on in to stay if he can.

"We need that calibre of player at a club like this, we need a 25-30 goals-a-season player if we can go out and get them.

"He is world class. His pedigree, calibre and his record speaks for itself. He's a very intelligent footballer, he has a cool head under pressure and is a good finisher, and he has that touch of charisma that all the good players have.

"He can stand up against anyone in Britain and parts of Europe as well and he's been a huge player for us in the short time he has been here."

At the other end of the pitch Celtic will again be without goalkeeper Artur Boruc. He missed last week's league game at Hibernian following the death of his father and will not return from Poland until tomorrow. Compatriot Lukasz Zaluska will again deputise.

Lennon's own future will be decided at the end of the season but the Irishman admits defeat against the Irn-Bru First Division side would "diminish" his chances of getting the post on a full-time basis.

Asked about the implications of what would be a shock defeat, the former Celtic captain said: "It would diminish my opportunity. It won't all hinge on the one game but ultimately I would be disappointed if we didn't go through and I would certainly have a look at myself and ask the questions as to why.

"But I am trying to be as positive as possible and I think we have a decent enough chance of going through.

"It's a huge game for us in terms of our season. We are two games away from winning a bit of silverware and winning would give the players an incentive for the rest of the season.

"We are on a hiding to nothing really but that's what it is here most weeks. If we win we are expected to win and if we lose it's a disaster. But it's a challenge and I enjoy the challenge. I think I have got a good chance (of getting the job].

"But no matter what happens I will view it as a positive experience. I am relishing it and whether it goes wrong or doesn't go wrong I will put the experience to good use the next time, wherever that will be." If Celtic do fail then Lennon insists it will not be for lack of preparation. He said: "As a player you always thought about the game but this is the next step. The real difference is that you are looking after 30 different personalities whereas you are looking after yourself as a player.

"You don't stop thinking about things, you can never switch off and I have enjoyed it. How hard it is to pick a team, pick the right players for the eventualities that might happen, things that you never thought about as a player.

"I have watched Ross County all week – my head is buzzing. I saw them against Hibs and Dunfermline and I saw them four weeks ago against Partick Thistle. They are a good team, a confident team, who are well organised and well drilled and they will be giving it everything they have got."

While he would not be drawn on his future, Keane did take a dim view of the playing surfaces he has encountered since arriving in Scotland, believing the Clydesdale Bank Premier League is bedevilled by poor pitches which would dissuade some players from coming to Scotland.

Keane will grace the Hampden pitch for the first time today but he has been unimpressed by most other grounds so far.

"I didn't think the pitches were going to be as bad to be honest," he said. "When people down south are watching the games and they see the pitches then obviously it doesn't reflect brilliantly (on the SPL].

Asked if players would perhaps think twice about coming to Scotland after seeing the pitches, he said: "Yes, probably. I don't want to get into the situation where I am slagging off Scottish football, I'm certainly not doing that. The pitches have not been good enough and I'm just stating the obvious.

"But I'm looking forward to playing at Hampden. Players always want to play in big stadiums and big games."