Neil Lennon slams Celtic defender

Neil Lennon admits that he sometimes worries about Jack Hendry defensively. After six months on loan at Oostende the defender was voted as best player in the Belgian League by Voetbal magazine. The Belgian league is probably the most watched and scouted in Europe as clubs search for the next Hazard, Lukaku or De Bruyne.

It would be some stretch to put Hendry in with that trio of internationalists but it would be equally stupid to dispute that his game has improved out of all recognition in a different environment under new coaches.

Oostende barely avoided relegation in the 2019/20 season, with Hendry on board they finished the regular season in fifth place in the 18 team division. After leaving Celtic as fifth or sixth choice central defender the former Dundee man is a strong candidate to start for Scotland against the Czech Republic on Monday.

Looking at the side that Steve Clarke will pick, Lennon told The Times:

I’m wary of the right side. Jack Hendry scored a great goal against Holland and I think he’s had a decent season but I do worry about him defensively sometimes, switching off and people running off the back of him or getting in crosses from that side.

Stephen O’Donnell has quality but maybe not top, top quality. It could be James Forrest there and that would leave a decision on right centre half whether it’s Jack or Grant Hanley or someone like that.

There have been reports that Oostende have taken up the option to sign Hendry from Celtic but neither club has commented on the issue.

If the Belgian side have signed the defender he seems certain to get a move to England with Aston Villa, Leeds United and Burnley interested.