Striker on Lennon's Christmas wish list despite Celtic strolling to victory in Perth

Chief Sports Writer

Monday 19 December 2011

CELTIC are still in the market for another striker despite Neil Lennon's praise of his forwards following his side's 2-0 victory over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park yesterday.

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Hugh MacDonald

Lennon, who watched his team go four points behind Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, confirmed he had been in Portugal on Saturday night on a scouting mission but would not say if his target was Baba Diawara, the 23-year-old Maritimo striker.

"I was over looking at a couple of players," said Lennon. "I didn't get back until four in the morning so I am a bit tired. But why are you asking about Diawara? I went to watch a number of players. I am not here to answer questions about speculation, let's leave it at that."Celtic were in the market for the Senegalese player in the last transfer window but Lennon said the club are no nearer attracting the striker to Parkhead. ''I still want another striker," he added. "I am more than pleased with the form of Samaras. He has been really consistent. "He was not playing as well as he should have been and he was the whipping boy, but he has turned it around. He was brilliant today and against Udinese on Thursday night. ''I do not like singling players out but Samaras is playing at the top of his game at the moment. He brings an extra dimension to the team.''Second-half goals from Gary Hooper, who was also praised by his manager, and Ki Sung-Yueng gave Celtic their seventh consecutive victory in the league and set the side up for a festive double header at Parkhead that starts with the match against Kilmarnock on Christmas Eve and continues with the Old Firm game on December 28.Daniel Majstorovic, however, looks likely to be out for an extended spell. He is believed to have fractured his cheekbone and perhaps his eye socket in a clash of heads with St Johnstone's David Robertson after 30 minutes. ''It's a big blow but we have good cover,'' said Lennon of the injury to the Swedish central defender. Thomas Rogne came on for Majstorovic yesterday and Kelvin Wilson was also on the bench.''We will wait and see the extent of the injury,'' said the Celtic manager.Lennon was enthused by his side's performance, claiming it was both ''brilliant'' and ''fantastic''. He was determined, though, not to look forward to the Old Firm match next Wednesday night, adding: ''I do not want my players talking about Rangers.''Unfortunately, Lennon had been preceded into the media room by Ki who was only too willing to discuss the Old Firm match.''We are looking forward to playing Rangers,'' said the South Korean midfielder. ''We have to win against Rangers. It is going to be a very interesting game. Our team is in the mood and we are better than the last time we played against them. We are really looking forward to playing against them.''Rangers won the first Old Firm match 4-2 after Celtic led 2-1 at half-time but Ki said: ''We're maybe a much better team than the last time and we're playing at Celtic Park which gives us a lot of confidence.'' Ki said that the team's performances in the Europa League had given them belief. ''Everyone in the squad has a good attitude and we are preparing very well for every game,'' he said.

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Striker on Lennon's Christmas wish list despite Celtic strolling to victory in Perth

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