Neil Lennon to hold talks with Fraser Forster over Celtic future

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon believes the club’s title-winning party at Kilmarnock last weekend will persuade Fraser Forster to make his move to Parkhead permanent.

The big keeper, who is nearing the end of his second loan spell at the Glasgow club from Newcastle, celebrated with his team-mates following the 6-0 win which clinched his first SPL winners’ medal and he can edge closer to a Scottish Cup double if Celtic get past Hearts in Sunday’s semi-final at Hampden.

Lennon, speaking in Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge, before joining Sir Ian Botham in a charity walk in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, refused to talk about reports linking him with Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon saying, “I can’t clarify that, no.”

However, the Celtic boss is confident of keeping Forster.

“We are hoping to speak to his agent and Fraser himself in the next few weeks,” said Lennon.

“He knows we are very keen to get things tied up with him as he has had a fantastic two seasons here.

“The feeling he may have got on Saturday... I think it would be very difficult for him to leave here now.

“He is making all the right noises at the minute so it is a case of getting things sorted out.”

Lennon admitted James Forrest’s ankle injury makes him a major doubt for the Hearts game.

He said: “He is struggling.

“I think he will be a major doubt for the game at the weekend.

“He took a real heavy knock and there was a lot of bleeding in the soft tissue area as well as well as bone bruising.”