Neil Lennon hopes Celtic can steal show after week in shadows

Lennon returns to Tannadice Park tomorrow, scene of some controversial games with Dundee United in the past. But the manager has relished his time out of the public eye – or as out of it as it is possible to be if you are someone as high-profile as the Celtic manager.

There is the rather significant matter of an ongoing court case in which two men stand accused of conspiring to murder Lennon, as well as former MSP Trish Godman and the late QC Paul McBride, who was found dead in Pakistan last weekend. This sad news prompted Lennon to issue an emotional statement earlier this week, but that apart he has retreated from view as Celtic continued preparations for tomorrow afternoon’s William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final tie.

Unusually, Celtic cancelled their usual pre-match briefing at Lennoxtown yesterday. The reason for this understood to be Lennon’s belief that he has said enough on the Rangers situation, while he is also believed to be dismayed at the way some of his views on the subject have been presented in the media.

Lennon is perhaps relieved to have an excuse to step away from the glare of media attention, however briefly. He knows the season is reaching a crescendo as far as Celtic are concerned. There is much talk of the treble and while Lennon may be reluctant to talk about such a possibility in public, he referred to the possibility in an interview with the club’s in house-television station yesterday.

He also admitted that Celtic’s first title since 2008 could be tied up soon, with his side currently 21 points ahead of second-placed Rangers, who are their next opponents in the league.

Celtic face Kilmarnock in the final of the Scottish Communities League Cup next Sunday and Lennon has made the point that defeat tomorrow would mean the side’s season grinding to a long drawn-out, conclusion. It is possible for his side to be crowned league champions before the end of the month.

For this reason the manager desperately wants to see his club’s interest in the Scottish Cup maintained, preferably all the way to the final on 19 May.

Remarkably, United have won just one of their past 20 home matches against Celtic. However, their current form is such that they are possibly best placed to finally inflict defeat on Lennon’s side, who last suffered a loss in Scotland against Hearts in October. Understandably, manager Peter Houston stuck to the line yesterday that his side are severe underdogs. They have, though, won five of their past six matches, scoring 16 goals in the process and conceding only once. United are also the last winners of the Scottish Cup after Celtic.

Nevertheless, Houston insisted that his side will be operating without the pressure of knowing they are expected to win tomorrow. “We are big underdogs for this game, Celtic will always be favourites to beat Dundee United,” said Houston. “The big thing for us is that we try our hardest and I believe if you do that then maybe a wee bit of luck will come to you. We have had that in the last wee while so hopefully we can get a bit more. We are scoring goals and keeping clean sheets – hopefully we’ve kept some for Sunday.

“The Scottish Cup brings the best out of the fans here and I’d love the players to put a show on for them. We won the cup in 2010. There’s only three or four who started at Hampden left and another couple who missed out. So we still have guys who remember it and the young lads were around the place.

“That was a great achievement that season and I hope the experience stands us in good stead,” he added.

Houston has been impressed by Celtic’s resurgence under Lennon this season, especially as they were lagging 15 points behind in the title race at one stage. However, the manager believes their early season form was simply down to needing new players to gel. He is not surprised they have kicked on.

“Neil was maybe finding out what his best team was at the start of the season, it takes time. You get judged by the players you bring in and the guys Celtic signed have been doing the job.

“They have a really strong pool so can make plenty of changes. I have watched them several times lately, they are strong, dogged and pass the ball really well. They are a top side so we know how difficult it’s going to be. They have quality strikers, Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes have scored a lot of goals this season and they still have the likes of Samaras too.”

United will be without Danny Swanson. Otherwise, they have a clean bill of health. “Danny has not done enough to be involved,” said Houston. “He is training but it is too early for him. The squad will be along similar lines to the past few weeks.”

Celtic, meanwhile, are likely to recall skipper Scott Brown after his recovery from a groin injury.