Gary Caldwell believes Celtic's public backing of Neil Lennon has helped the players find their confidence again.

The manager has been under serious pressure this season after losing some vital matches in the league title race including against Rangers and St Mirren as well as drawing at important stages in the campaign.

His future, from the outside looking in at least, has been questioned and former Celtic defender Caldwell reckons the noise could perhaps have affected the Hoops stars on the pitch.

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However majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Peter Lawwell have both backed Lennon and insisted he would be fully supported, which Caldwell believes has gone a long way towards allowing his stars to feel comfortable in the knowledge that their boss will remain in charge and there will still be the same stability at the club amid the on-field struggles.

"I think the board has said that on numerous occasions and what it has done is gave the players a bit of confidence and they need to look to the next game," Caldwell told Sky Sports. "I think it's an old cliché in football but they just have to focus on the next game and try to win that, see where that takes them up to the end of the season.

"Slowly but surely the confidence is coming back into the team and [Wednesday] night it was more convincing probably, in the end, but what was really impressive was how ruthless they were."