Source: Team_Talk
Lennon: McCourt is ready to play
Celtic manager Neil Lennon has assured Paddy McCourt he has a major role to play in the coming weeks and months.[LNB] McCourt has not started for Celtic since netting a superb solo winner at Inverness on the opening day of the Scottish Premier League season.[LNB]A neck injury sustained celebrating that goal saw McCourt fall out of the team, although he has come off the bench in Celtic's three other SPL wins.[LNB]The Northern Ireland winger did so to great effect on Saturday, netting another brilliant individual effort as Celtic beat Hearts 3-0.[LNB]McCourt, who signed a new three-year contract in the summer, admitted after the match he felt he had to produce something special every time he played given the competition for places.[LNB]But Lennon, who recently questioned whether McCourt would ever be as fit as most of his team-mates, fully intends to utilise the former Rochdale and Derry City player's talents.[LNB]Lennon, whose team face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday, told the Huddle Online: "It was a wonderful goal and I enjoyed Paddy's performance.[LNB]"He is going to play a part this season, no doubt about it.[LNB]"The more he trains on a regular basis, the less we need to worry about his injury problems.[LNB]"He is in a good place at the moment. He is ready to play and will play a big part in the next few weeks."[LNB]One of the creative players blocking McCourt's path to a starting spot is Shaun Maloney, who has also netted two SPL goals this season.[LNB]But Maloney has often been deployed in a central role and that is exactly how Lennon sees him playing during the campaign.[LNB]"He is emerging, and I know it's early in the season, as a big player for us," the Celtic manager said.[LNB]"I have been a big fan of Shaun for a long, long time. I've known him since he emerged as a 17-year-old when I was playing in the 2000-2001 season.[LNB]"He is not only a great footballer but also very intelligent and has a great football brain.[LNB]"He has something different from the rest, he has a great appreciation of the game and the touch and pace to get away from people.[LNB]"I was delighted with his goal (against Hearts). He can be more clinical but he is getting into those positions, which he wasn't doing before.[LNB]"Once he gets a few more goals under his belt, his season will really take off."
