If Larsson goes, he has our blessing, says O’Neill

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill says he is resigned to losing Henrik Larsson when the talismanic striker’s contract expires at the end of the season.

The former Sweden international joined Celtic in 1997 from Dutch side Feyenoord and has blossomed with the Hoops, winning the UEFA Golden Shoe award in 2001 but this month his agent said he would be looking at moving on if a Premiership club showed interest in him. O’Neill said yesterday: “If he’s pretty clear in his mind that he wants to go then that’s his own personal choice. If he’s going after seven years then he will get the blessing of everyone.”

The Celtic boss added: “I don’t think it’s important for him or us to know where he’s going.

“In his own mind I don’t think he’ll be absolutely sure. He’ll have no end of offers and those people who will be interested in signing him, and there will be many, will be waiting until the last possible moment if that is what Henrik decides on.” O’Neill, meanwhile, rejected an accusation that his players had refused to shake hands after being knocked out of the Scottish League Cup last week by Hibernian. The accusation was made by Hibs’ Grant Brebner after the match at Easter Road but O’Neill said he would be surprised if his team had behaved in that manner.

“My own view is that I would be very surprised if my players did not shake hands. I would be absolutely amazed and I believe that Grant Brebner actually said that perhaps they were celebrating in all the corners of the pitch so maybe they never got a chance to shake hands.”

Celtic and Hibs meet again in the Scottish Premier League today.