Lennon wary of Hearts

NEIL LENNON fears Hearts players could react in one of two ways to their on-going problems with wages in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Celtic at Parkhead today.

PFA Scotland this week urged the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football Association to intervene over the continual non-payment of players’ salaries at the Gorgie club.

Hearts’ first-team squad are awaiting delayedpayment of their wages for the second successive month with reports claiming they have been asked to wait until March.

Lennon and midfielder James Forrest were voted Clydesdale Bank Premier League manager and young player of the month for November, respectively. Asked if Hearts could be affected, the Irishman replied: “Possibly, it’s not a nice time for those players, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas.

“Whatever people think, it is a living these guys undertake and they have mortgages to pay and families to look after.

“It could spur them on, they could be a wounded animal in that respect, but we will approach the game as weapproach every game regardless of the opposition.”

Meanwhile Lennon believes the prospect of facing either Manchester City or Manchester United in the knockout stages of the Europa League will give his Celtic side extra motivation when they take on Udinese in their final Group I game in Italy on Thursday night.

The Hoops need to beat the Italians to go through to the last 32 in second place behind Atletico Madrid.

And if they do, the two Manchester clubs will be waiting for them, along with the others who have dropped down from the Champions League.