Martin O'Neill on Neil Lennon as Celtic duo set for reunion

Lennon, who now manages Dunfermline, will meet his former boss O’Neill for the first time on Saturday. O’Neill managed the former Celtic captain at Leicester City and Celtic.

O’Neill said: "Neil Lennon has been fantastic for me as a player, absolutely fantastic. He pulled it round at Leicester City when I needed help big time.

"I chased him for about six months and finally got him. And what he did for the football club here in that time, in what I would call a really splendid time for the SPL, was fantastic."

The 74-year-old said he always knew Lennon would be successful in management. He said: "There are a lot of players that I've managed that might have surprised me by going into management and doing well.

"Neil Lennon, what he's done, did not surprise me. Obviously he loved playing but when he stepped into managing and coaching, I knew he'd be successful.

"I just knew he would do it because he had it within him."

O’Neill is also excited about his own team’s recent success. He said: "Winning the league is like a weight off your shoulders because you've been carrying it around for quite some time.

"We were trying to get into the picture, lost a lot of ground at Tannadice, fought back brilliantly and won the last seven games.

"We got in front at the end and it was wonderful."

He added: "I'm really looking forward to the game. You wouldn't believe how much I'm looking forward to it."