Lennon to miss derby

Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon is set to miss the next Old Firm derby.

The former Northern Ireland international was at the centre of controversial scenes the last time Celtic and Rangers met, in the Bank of Scotland Premier League at Ibrox on November 20.

Hoops manager Martin O’Neill launched a furious attack on Rangers fans after Alex McLeish’s side won 2-0, accusing them of racist and sectarian abuse towards Lennon.

The two sides were drawn against each other in the third round of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup, which will be played at Parkhead next month.

But Lennon will not take part as he is suspended, having been booked twice in last year’s competition.

A yellow card picked up in a 3-1 win over Dunfermline in the final in May put him over the disciplinary threshold.

Two bookings qualify a player for a suspension in this competition and as the final was the last game of the 2003-04 season the punishment has been carried over to the current campaign.

It was also the eighth successive away draw in the competition for McLeish’s Rangers, who last played a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox in January 2002, when Hibernian were beaten 4-1.