NEIL Lennon has paid a glowing tribute to Scott Sinclair as the winger edges closer to a Celtic exit after three-and-a-half years at Parkhead.

Sinclair has left the Glasgow club’s winter training camp in Dubai to speak to Preston North End after the English Championship club reached agreement with the Scottish champions on a loan deal.

Sinclair, a £3.5 million signing from Aston Villa back in 2016, has only played in seven games for Neil Lennon’s side in the first half of the 2019/20 campaign.

However, the Northern Irishman praised the 30-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, for his contribution to Celtic’s recent successes and wished him well for the future.

“The clubs have agreed so it is down to Scotty,” said Lennon. “His time was limited here in the first half of the season and at his age he wants to play regular football which we could not guarantee.

“But he’s left a great legacy. He’s a fantastic professional and everyone here would wish him well if the eventuality comes around.

“Scotty was a Player of the Year, he was a treble treble winner and played a huge part in that. I think the fans would hold him in high regard.”

He continued: “We tried to treat Scott with as much respect as we possibly could because he did not give me one day’s problem.

“He came in and trained every day and looked after himself really well, but he just found it hard to get into the team with the form of the other boys keeping him out.”