Lennon won't quit - Laursen

Celtic defender Ulrik Laursen insists Neil Lennon has the mental toughness to resist attempts to hound him out of Glasgow.

The midfielder has become a target of fans’ abuse throughout the Bank of Scotland Premier League and was targeted by Rangers supporters in the controversial Old Firm derby at Ibrox.

Parkhead manager Martin O’Neill described the Rangers fans’ taunts as “racist” and showed his support for the former Northern Ireland international at the end of the game by taking him to the visiting fans.

Lennon is no stranger to abuse after quitting international football following a death threat two years ago and has previously been attacked by thugs in the street in Glasgow.

The 33-year-old is currently in talks over a new contract with his present deal due to expire in the summer.

But Laursen does not expect recent events to force Lennon to quit Parkhead.

He said: “Neil is mentally very strong and it doesn’t concern him in the slightest.”

O’Neill’s actions at Ibrox last week sparked a week-long furore between Celtic and Rangers.

But Danish defender Laursen is not fazed by the row and reckons most professional footballers are capable of handling any taunts aimed at them.

He said: “Opposing fans are always going to pick on somebody and our own fans do it – that’s just part of the game.

“If you can’t handle it, you shouldn’t be playing. You cannot let it put you off your game.

“If the opposing crowd have something against you, then you must have done something right.”

The former Hibernian full-back is currently looking for a return to first-team action after just one start this season.

But Laursen does not see any reason to knock on the manager’s door just yet.

He said: “Obviously, I would like to play more than I have been doing right now.

“The same players are doing well and it is hard to get a game.

“However, I don’t know where the manager’s door is but I don’t need to go looking for it. I wouldn’t even know where to go if I wanted to look for it.

“I would rather tell him on the training park by showing him what I can do. I need the games to regain my confidence.

“You can’t just go in an play one game and expect to stay in.

“You need a run of three or four games to show what you can still do for the team. At the moment, it is hard.”