Lennon won't be leaving Hoops

Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon will not be leaving the club after the “mindless” attack on him, according to his representative Mel Stein.

The former Northern Ireland international was attacked in Glasgow’s West End hours after helping the Hoops back to the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with the win over Motherwell.

Lennon suffered facial injuries in the incident, which also saw a female companion pushed to the ground.

The matter has been reported to Strathclyde Police who will continue investigations.

The 31-year-old still has two years left on his current deal but, after suffering a death threat before an international in August and a previous incident in a nightclub two years ago, questions have been raised about his future in light of this latest attack.

But Stein maintains the player has no reason not to stay with the club he supported as a boy.

Stein told the Press Association: “Why should it affect his future with Celtic?

“This is the first time there has been a mindless assault on him personally when he was on his own.

“It can happen anywhere – London, New York or anywhere. They were just thugs.

“The matter got reported to the police and there was an independent witness who saw these guys attack Neil.

“I spoke to Neil a few times on Thursday and he was very shocked and upset.

“But he will be playing against Hearts tomorrow. Wouldn’t anyone be happy at Celtic at the moment? They are top of the SPL and in the UEFA Cup final.

“It was very shocking but I don’t regard it as a footballing issue.”

He added: “I just think it was mindless thugs, to be honest.

“It wasn’t pre-meditated. They saw him with a pretty girl and just attacked him. They were absolute drones.

“Neil was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The Parkhead club confirmed the incident was now in the process of investigation by the police.

A Celtic spokesman said: “We can confirm that Neil Lennon and a female friend were the victims of an assault by three men.

“The matter has been reported to Strathclyde Police who are now carrying out an investigation into the incident.”

Lennon quit the international scene last August after receiving a death threat before a friendly against Cyprus.

He was also hurt in an incident in a Glasgow nightclub in December 2001.