Lennon praises world-class Samaras

Neil Lennon claimed Georgios Samaras put in a world-class performance with a hat-trick in Celtic's 5-2 Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.After Kris Commons capitalised on a mistake by Killie keeper Craig Samson to give the Hoops the lead in the 19th minute, the Greece forward scored twice within two minutes, the first with a guided volley and the second after a good one-two with Commons.Kilmarnock midfielder Sammy Clingan, playing his first game of the season after recovering from a knee injury, reduced the deficit with a great free-kick before defender Sean Clohessy made it 3-2 just before the break.However, Samaras sealed the win in the 87th minute with a header before substitute Amido Balde, on for Teemu Pukki, scored a fifth two minutes later.Afterwards, the Celtic boss said: "I thought he was world-class today."You can talk about the standard of SPFL football or this and that but when you see a player play as well as that, no matter the standard, you can tell that he is a top-class player."I thought he was brilliant. Everything about his game was of the highest quality."I am delighted he got the goals but even if he hadn't got the goals, I thought his all-round play was magnificent."Samaras, however, was almost unwilling to accept the praise of Lennon.And for a player who had just scored his first hat-trick in three years, he cut a very subdued figure in the Rugby Park media room.

Source: PA