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McCourt desperate for action

Celtic winger Paddy McCourt is desperate to play a central role this year as the club bids to retain its title.

McCourt arguably made the most crucial single intervention last season for Celtic when he came off the bench at Fir Park in November with his side 15 points behind SPL leaders Rangers.

Celtic were drawing 1-1 with second-placed Motherwell until McCourt embarked on one of his direct and skilful runs to set up Gary Hooper for the winner. That sparked a 17-match winning run in the SPL for Celtic but McCourt only made three substitute appearances during that sequence as a niggling injury and an inability to force his way into Lennon’s line-up saw him play a peripheral part.

McCourt said: “I’m hoping to play as much as possible. I don’t think I played that big a role last year through one thing or another.

“I’m hoping to contribute a bit more this year.”

McCourt has been linked with a move away from Parkhead but he has not had any offers this summer.

“It’s early yet,” he said. “The manager or (chief executive) Peter (Lawwell) haven’t come to me and said there any offers or anything. Until that happens there is no decision to make.”

McCourt’s immediate aim is to help Celtic into the Champions League group stages with their first match of two potential qualifying ties taking place at home to HJK Helsinki on Wednesday.

“It’s crucial for the team, more importantly,” he said of the next few weeks.

Celtic host Inter Milan at 1.30pm today having failed to score in four out of five pre-season friendlies,.

Rangers meanwhile were yesterday selling tickets for their Ramsdens Cup clash at Brechin despite a continued delay in Scottish FA membership issues. Tickets for the Glebe Park encounter had sold out on Monday but the Ibrox club said some more became available. However, the game cannot take place unless Sevco Scotland, who bought Rangers’ assets when the club was consigned to liquidation, attain some form of licence to play.

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