NEIL LENNON backed Brendan Rodgers for Premiership glory just one week after his countryman had returned to take over Celtic.
The much-decorated former club captain reckoned the second time-around gaffer could lead the team to a barrier-breaking 56th title, as CQN reported in June last year.
The champions, under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, lifted their 53rd crown last season and are just three away from overtaking their Ibrox foes.
CROWNING GLORY…Ange Postecoglou holds aloft the Premiership title last season.
The record books show the Govan club have 55 flags and Lennon, who also had two stints in the Parkhead dug-out, said: “Brendan will see that as a challenge and he’ll embrace it.
“He has signed a three-year contract and has publicly promised to fulfil it. If he can win the league in each of those seasons then Celtic will have overtaken Rangers with 56 titles.
“That’s an incentive for the board, the management and the players. It’ll be just one more thing which we have over them, added to the European Cup win, the Invincible treble, the quadruple treble and two nine-in-a-rows.”
With Rodgers now 22 league games into the campaign and the team holding an eight-point advantage over their nearest challengers, Lennon sees no reason to change his mind.
SEEING DOUBLE…Neil Lennon with the 2019/20 Premiership trophy and (below) Brendan Rodgers proudly displays the silverware after his debut campaign in 2016/17.
The Northern Irishman, who won five titles as a player and another five as a manager, told PLZ Soccer: “They [Rangers] still haven’t got that mentality yet of squashing that hold that Celtic have over them and they need to break that if they’re going to win the league.
“And to do that they need to bring in either players of better quality or better mentality.”
Looking at where his old team could strengthen as they bid for their twelfth crown in 13 years, Lennon reckoned a striker was a priority and added: “I think they need a bit more creativity in midfield, as well – more goals from midfield.
“And they need a bit more power in the team.”
Phlippe Clement’s Ibrox club, who have lost both Glasgow derbies this season, have two games in hand and play one of them tomorrow night when they travel to Easter Road to take on Hibs.
