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.