NEIL LENNON won plenty during his playing days so it was a bit surprising yesterday to hear him say that, should Celtic go on to lift the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title this season, it would rank as the greatest moment of his career.

Lennon was always an important component in every team that he represented, and enjoyed the celebrations that followed success with both Leicester City and Celtic, but, as he speaks about what it would mean to win a first championship as a manager, it becomes clear he is motivated by the prospect of showing he can do it alone too.

The Scottish Cup was scant consolation last season in a campaign that offered so much but, ultimately, delivered just that solitary trophy. The championship was the one that got away, but Lennon has learned from that bitter experience and returned for more. Celtic remain in the hunt for four trophies and, after a sticky spell that threatened to bring the manager's stewardship to an abrupt halt, have narrowed the gap behind Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to four points.

Lennon continues to develop in the role of manager, forever discovering his players' strengths and limitations and learning more about what he does well and what he struggles with. The job continues to bring him a lot of enjoyment, even during that dark period when it seemed the sack was looming. That told him a lot about his team as they scrapped and clawed their way out of a hole, and back to a position of respectability.

"It would be the best thing I've ever done in my professional career if we go on to win the league," he admitted. "Playing is easy, compared to what you have to do as a manager. As a player, you looked after yourself basically. When you were on the pitch, you bonded with your mates and you were a team player. But basically your preparation was all about yourself.

"Now you've got about 25 or 26 of them to prepare. In the modern game, you've got different cultures, religions and personalities to deal with. But we all have one common goal, which is winning games and trying to win trophies.

"It's a great challenge, far more worthwhile than I ever expected it to be. I've had to learn on the job, absolutely. Whether you play or manage, you are always learning in football. There's not a day goes by when you don't pick up something new. You could probably ask Sir Alex [Ferguson] that and I'm sure he'd tell you exactly the same thing.

"You get a real sense of satisfaction out of seeing the team play well, but also from riding the rough times and coming out the other side. If you go through the same patch again, you are better prepared for it, so you can deal with it a little bit better and a little bit quicker.

"I do enjoy the job and even in a perverse sort of way I enjoyed the pressure that was going on six or seven weeks ago. I enjoyed the challenge of it and trying to get the team back to where we feel we should be.

"The man-management side of it is huge. I don't really want to spend a lot of time on the training ground, although I do go out there and keep an eye on things. It's how you deal with each individual and how you can get the best out of them on a consistent basis."

There is always a rush to judge teams, players and managers, but those posting an early verdict can often be left looking foolish. Celtic have clawed eight points back on Rangers in the space of a month, and there have been similar swings of momentum from one Glasgow club to the other in recent seasons. The loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last May, at a time when Celtic were odds-on favourites to seal the championship, is the only lesson Lennon will ever need about not taking anything for granted.

"There is a lot of football to be played, so we are not getting carried away with ourselves. But there has been a shift, as it were, albeit a small shift [in recent weeks] towards us in terms of confidence, performances and results. Again, that can all change very quickly.

"Even when we were 12 points behind, I felt it was far too early to say the league was over or that we were out of the running. It was the same last year, even before we lost at Inverness. Both teams were going hard at it and there is always a danger lurking.

"I'd been through it many times as a player. You can't really enjoy it until you have your hands on the trophy. You think about it, but there are so many booby-traps along the way. You enjoy the good times, but you never know what's around the corner. You have to be wary of all the little pitfalls and how you deal with them."

The latest challenge facing Celtic comes in the shape of Hearts who travel to Glasgow this afternoon. Uncertainty continues to swirl around Tynecastle with the first-team squad still awaiting the remainder of their November wages, a media blackout in place, and players threatening to walk out in January.

"It must be a very difficult situation for the players," Lennon added. "Now it could act as extra motivation for them – I don't know – but my sympathies are certainly with the players. No matter how much they earn, they've still got bills and mortgages to pay like everybody else.

"You always want to play football, but sometimes it can be difficult if you're playing for nothing. Maybe you would do it on the odd occasion but this has been going on for about six weeks now. It must be very difficult for them. I have a lot of sympathy for them but it will stop for an hour and a half on Saturday."