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Paddy McCourt's aims to repay Neil Lennon

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Paddy McCourt Celtic newsPaddy McCourt is determined to repay Neil Lennon’s faith with a match winning display against Rangers

Celtic and Lennon’s credentials are on the line at Ibrox where a home win will give Rangers a two point lead with two games in hand as they chase a third successive title.

Those championship successes have cost Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray their jobs with rookie Lennon up against Walter Smith in his final season in charge of Rangers.

All eyes will be on Celtic new bhoy Freddie Ljungberg as Lennon decides on his team but it’ll be another type of pin-up that most Celtic fans will be investing their hopes in.

With every appearance the cult of Paddy McCourt is developed with Celtic supporters drooling over his unorthodox style that relies on trickery and is topped off with a devastating eye for goal.

Despite his undoubted popularity McCourt could have left Celtic during the summer after two frustrating seasons as a rarely used bit part player under Strachan and Mowbray.

One man ensured that the Derry Pele remained in Glasgow with McCourt happy to acknowledge that it’s Lennon who has salvaged his hoops career.

“I don’t think it’s any secret that it was the manager who convinced me to stay at the club, “McCourt admitted. “I had a lot of soul searching to do in the summer.

“There was never a time when I wanted to leave Celtic but I needed to sit down and really think about what was best for my career. I hadn’t played many games and there were a few offers on the table.

“When the manager was appointed, he pulled me in straight away and told me I was going nowhere, that he wanted me to stay and play in the team.

“He said I would feature regularly this season, either starting or from the bench and has kept to his word.

“I’ve no regrets that I chose to stay here. I’m really enjoying it and I’m as strong and fit as I’ve been in my life.”

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Fraser Forster assumed as keeper

Injuries, suspensions and international duty have devastated Lennon’s options with Gary Hooper, Shaun Maloney, Olivier Kapo, Daryl Murphy, Ki Sung-Yeung and Scott Brown all ruled out of his Ibrox plans.

Match-winners and goalscorers are thin on the ground with McCourt filling both categories.

Two goals in his last four appearances are a more than acceptable return from any non-striker with the 27-year-old setting his own scoring demands.

He added: “There’s always responsibility on players like myself to get goals, any attacking player has a responsibility to create goals or score them.

“I’m pleased with my goals so far this season, I’ve got five goals from four starts and I’m happy to contribute to the team.

“Every player wants to play from the start and I’m no different, I hope that I’ve done enough to be selected for Sunday.

“This season I’ve played in the majority of the games and scored a few goals, I’m working hard and hoping that the more starts I get the stronger I’ll feel.”

Hip op made Freddie feel 25 again.

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0 comments

  • Todd says:

    Any reason there is no Juarez in the list of players for selection?

    Forster
    Wilson Rogne Dan Izzy
    Ledley Kayal
    Forrest Ljungberg McCourt
    Stokes

    But, maybe Juarez for Forrest assuming he is available for selection. I think we will need to scrap hard in midfield to get the points.

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