Neil Lennon admits he’d have no problem with Kris Boyd playing for Celtic

Boyd is seeking a new club in Britain after terminating his contract with Turkish club Eskisehirspor this week and commencing legal proceedings against them for non-payment of wages.

The 28-year-old, who is the Scottish Premier League’s all-time leading scorer with a total of 164 goals for Kilmarnock and Rangers, has inevitably been linked with a return to Ibrox.

But while current Rangers manager Ally McCoist yesterday refused to rule out a bid to bring Boyd back to the club in January, it was Lennon’s comments on the player which generated most attention.

The Celtic manager has made it clear he wants to recruit a new striker next month and he admitted Boyd could fit the bill.

“He is a proven goalscorer,” said Lennon. “I don’t know how much football he has played of late, but he is a player with a great record and any player like that would interest me.

“You are talking hypothetically here and are starting to speculate already, but with regards to that question [would it be a problem that Boyd had played for Rangers?] no, I can’t see it being a problem. But again, I don’t want to talk about players coming and going until January.”

Boyd played just 76 minutes of first-team football in only two appearances for Eskisehirspor during his five months in Turkey, the move quickly turning sour after he left Middlesbrough in July.

He remains a popular figure with a sizeable contingent of the Rangers support, but McCoist was non-committal when asked about the prospect of making a move to re-sign the player who left under freedom of contract in the summer of 2010.

“It’s 100 per cent right that we have ruled nobody out, but I can’t count anybody in either,”said McCoist. “I would totally consider anybody at the moment. At this moment in time, we are just trying to weigh up our options and look at things.

“I think January will determine what we are going to do in terms of whether there is any movement out or in in terms of strengthening the squad. We certainly need strengthened in forward areas, there is no doubt of that. Other than that, I have absolutely no names to give you. I haven’t been told I have to sell to bring players in. But I can’t rule anyone out until I see what happens.”

Both Old Firm clubs have been linked with Dundee United midfielder Scott Allan, although West Bromwich Albion appear to be in pole position to sign the 20-year-old after agreeing a £400,000 fee for him with the Tannadice club.

But McCoist remains hopeful a personal plea to boyhood Rangers fan Allan may yet see the highly regarded Scotland under-21 international commit himself to the Ibrox club.

“We have shown an interest in Scott, as have one or two other clubs,” said McCoist. “I think we will probably hear in the near future what is happening there. I hope he is a Rangers supporter and I hope he turns out to be a real Rangers player as well, but time will tell.”

McCoist, meanwhile, says he has yet to make any decision on the future of club captain David Weir. The 41-year-old defender has indicated he may seek a loan move in January, having been unable to secure a first-team place this season.

“I haven’t spoken to Davie yet,” added McCoist, “but he scored two goals for us in a midweek bounce game against Motherwell so I would suggest there is life in Davie’s playing career yet. He played very well. He and I will sit down whenever he is ready and have a chat.”