NEIL Lennon last night expressed hope that Celtic get the go-ahead from Holyrood to let fans back in to Parkhead – and predicted it will boost their 10-In-A-Row bid and European prospects if they do.

The Glasgow club have been in talks with the Scottish government, who announced on Thursday that a limited number of supporters may be allowed to attend matches from September 14, about using their Premiership game against Motherwell a week tomorrow as a test event.

Lennon has been impressed with how the Scottish champions have dealt with the coronavirus safety protocols at their home fixtures against Hamilton and KR Reykjavik so far in the 2020/21 campaign is confident they can cope with the requirements.

The Northern Irishman admitted that having some Celtic fans cheering them on would give his players, who take on Dundee United in the league at Tannadice this evening, an edge both domestically and in continental competition.

“It is really important that we start games well, but it is sometimes difficult to do that when you are not walking out to the same atmosphere,” he said. “We don’t want this (empty stadiums) to be the norm. We want this to be a short time.

“The club is looking at hopefully testing, in collaboration with the government, at the Motherwell game next week. Hopefully we can some supporters into the stadium and then build on that.

“The sooner we can get supporters back into the stadium, the better for all involved in the game. Not just coaches, but players and, obviously, supporters. Once the game starts you are fully focused on the game, but there’s no doubt, particularly on a European night, that having our support back in there would be beneficial to us.”

Lennon added: “For weeks the club has been at the forefront of trying to get the game back in some sort of recognisable state again. We have competitive games, but it will be even better when we have the supporters there again.

“The games we have had at home whether it be Hamilton or Reykjavik, the protocols have been strict and very well organised and run. Under the jurisdiction of the Joint Response Group protocols, I think the club have been excellent. The stadium has been well organised and it’s been pretty seamless.”

Meanwhile, Lennon has stressed that he would like Kieran Tierney, who this week revealed he received threats and abuse from Celtic fans when he moved to Arsenal for a Scottish record £25m transfer fee last year, to feel welcome at Parkhead in future.

"We don't want him to feel uncomfortable coming back because he is more than welcome here that's for sure,” he said. “He is a great player. He has already won a major honour at Arsenal and he went with everyone's best wishes.

"Sometimes you get people on social media pretending to be Celtic fans and it is a platform that leaves you open to abuse or praise, whatever way you want to look at it.

"There is always a little bit of soreness with fans when a top player or top manager leaves a club and goes elsewhere. But I think 99.9 per cent of the supporters at Celtic think the world of him. Social media is not real. People can be a hero one day and a villain the next day. It is just not the real world."