Lennon skippers North for Cyprus tie

NORTHERN IRELAND manager Sammy McIlroy is calling on Neil Lennon to run the show against Cyprus tonight at Windsor Park.

The 31-year-old Celtic midfielder has been handed the captain’s armband in the absence of Steve Lomas and Gerry Taggart, who have withdrawn from the squad through injury.

Lennon is working his way back to full fitness after requiring knee surgery in the summer. McIlroy is convinced he is just the man for the job in what will be their final warm-up game ahead of the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

‘‘Neil had been carrying an injury for seven to eight months, but he is in our first squad and that is a great boost for all of us after the operation,’’ said McIlroy. ‘‘He is my sixth captain. With no disrespect to Neil, being the sixth captain shows you the problems we have had. Hopefully, things will change. He is the second most capped player in the current squad. Being in the engine room he can start us off with his passing and knowledge of the game.

‘‘Neil is a leader; he has been captain for Celtic as well. It’s a good honour for him. I hope he enjoys it and that his performance rubs off on the rest of the lads.’’ Being handed the captaincy is a high point for Lennon, who was jeered by a section of the Irish supporters a year ago after he joined Celtic.

That happened in the match against Norway, although in the following home game with the Czech Republic he was given a warm reception by the majority of the fans.

Lennon prefers to look forward. ‘‘It was difficult for me at the time, but I have put it all behind me,’’ he said.

‘‘This is a nice way to start the season by being named captain. I am not 100% yet, but that will come with games. ‘‘I have played in all the matches with Celtic and we’ve had a great start. I still get a wee bit of pain but that should go.’’

McIlroy has no doubts at all that the supporters in the main appreciate his skipper. ‘‘It was a handful who did what they did and that was totally wrong,’’ he said. ‘‘After the Norway game, the response from the Czech game summed it all up from the supporters. They gave him a magnificent reception.

“The Czech game drilled it in they wanted Neil Lennon there and they wanted Neil Lennon playing.’’

Cyprus lie eight places above their opponents in the FIFA rankings in 82nd spot, but McIlroy goes into the game looking for some positive signs ahead of the Euro 2004 qualifier against Spain next month.

His preparation has been hampered by the usual raft of withdrawals but he remains upbeat. ‘‘We are much more equipped with this squad than with the last couple of squads, ‘‘ he said.

‘‘If you add four or five who are missing onto this squad, we could definitely give most teams a match.’’

Probable team: Taylor (Fulham); Griffin (Dundee Utd), Williams (Wimbledon), Murdock (Preston), McCartney (Sunderland); Johnson (Birmingham), Lennon (Celtic), Horlock (Man City), Gillespie (Blackburn); Healy (Preston), Quinn (Willem II).