POLISHING rough diamonds into valuable gems is part of the job description as Celtic manager. Gone are the days when the top Scottish clubs could compete with those of similar size in England and further afield for the best talent.

Now, current Celtic boss Neil Lennon knows it is part of his remit, and also a necessity due to the relative financial limitations he is working under, that he often has to find a player young and develop him or he take on those whose careers have perhaps gone awry and helps them rediscover their spark.

In the cases of two of his summer signings, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Moritz Bauer, helping them find their mojo again is very much the task ahead of Lennon as he looks to get the best out of players who have recently lost their way a little.

In the case of Elyounoussi especially, he is excited by the talent that he could tap into if he can get the winger back to the form that persuaded Southampton to part with the best part of £16m to prise him from Swiss side Basel just a little over a year ago.

“I think all players who maybe don’t play, or it hasn’t worked out for them at a certain club, can go again,” Lennon said.

“This is a different environment obviously and you have to deal with the expectations, but he was playing for a big club in Switzerland, and in the Champions League, and he was a very, very good player for Basel. Maybe this change of scenery and environment might reignite him. That’s what we’re hoping anyway.

“He had a stellar career at Basel to the point where he was one of Norway’s best players and he went to Southampton for big money. It didn’t work out for him, that happens. But I don’t think you lose the ability.

“I think in him and Bauer we’ve got players with pedigree who are hungry to play and hungry to, if not prove a point then get back to playing at the level they know they are capable of. It’s up to me to tap into that.

“I think technically he’s a good player, he’s smart, a very fit lad. The two of them are actually.

“I think he will get goals at this level. I think there is experience there and he’ll be okay at Europa League level too.”

Elyounoussi failed to score in 16 appearances in the English Premier League last season, but Lennon was happy to explain what he feels he can bring to the Celtic side to fans whose only experience of the player lately may have been from fleeting glimpses on Match of the Day.

Although, those with longer memories may remember his virtuoso showing for Molde at Celtic Park four years ago, where he ran the show and found the net as the Norwegians inflicted defeat on Ronny Deila’s side.

“He can play right, he can play left and he can play off the striker,” said Lennon.

“He’s not blindingly quick but he’s smart and he’s a good mover, he’s quite lithe and he sees a pass and he’s a decent finisher as well.

“We’re hoping this will be an opportunity for him to get back to where he was maybe a year or two ago.”

Alas, should Celtic get the 25-year-old back in the groove, it is still likely to be a fleeting visit to Glasgow for Elyounoussi, with the Scottish champions having no option to buy when his loan deal expires at the end of the season.

“I’m not sure we could afford it,” Lennon said. “Though maybe he hasn’t lived up to the price tag. “He’s played a bit for Southampton in the Premier League but again there’s been a change of manager. It doesn’t look like he’s in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans.

“But that doesn’t make him a bad player. Having Kris Ajer here is good for him as well, a compatriot who will help him settle.

“Hopefully we’ll get the best out of him again.”

The signing of Elyounoussi rounded off a satisfactory summer transfer window for Lennon, who is pleased by the strength and the numbers he is now able to call upon. The international break helped in that regard too, giving the opportunity to nurse one or two players back to full health.

Although, that is not to say that he won’t take the opportunity to strengthen even further when the transfer window reopens in the winter.

“I think there’s a good structure but I always like to do a bit in January,” he said.

“There’s depth now. What that does to the boys who are already here is it gives them a jab of energy when they see the quality coming in and the experience and professionalism of some of the players we’ve brought in.

“They’re seeing some of the new boys settling now and feeling a part of it.

“You can’t do it without that core group. We’ve got a couple of decent loans and a couple of younger ones in Jeremie Frimpong and Lee O’Connor.

“Hopefully that augers well for the future as they look like two very good players. They’ve already added to the energy of the squad. Coming onto this period, we’re in a good place at the minute.

“We’ve done well with injuries. That’s been pleasing as well as we haven’t had a raft of them.

“(Tom) Rogic is now over his long-term injury which is like having a new player in the building. He’ll be in contention for Hamilton.

"It was a tumultuous month in terms of games, recovering from them, injuries, having to balance everything and trying to qualify.

"Then at the end of it you have a hugely significant game which psychologically has given everyone a lift.

"So it was nice to have a couple of days to take stock of things and then plan for another big month which has a lot of big games domestically and in Europe.

"It’s exciting for the players and my staff. We’ve started the season very, very well but we know we have to maintain our standards consistently now."