NEIL Lennon last night revealed that Celtic will look at extending Parkhead skipper Scott Brown’s contract next season.
Brown, who committed his future to the Glasgow club until 2021 back in January, has been in inspired form for the treble treble winners during the 2019/20 campaign.
And Lennon admitted they will speak to the 34-year-old, who scored two goals in the 5-2 win over Hibernian in the Betfred Cup semi-final on Saturday, about signing another deal next term.
The Northern Irishman, whose team take on Lazio in the Europa League in Rome on Thursday evening, joked that Celtic might not be able to afford giving their captain a new deal if he continues to play so well.
“He’s incredible,” he said. “I think he’s playing as well as ever. I look at Rangers away, Lazio, Sunday, Aberdeen away and other games.
“He had a little bit of a toe problem at the start of the season, that was curtailing him. But he’s over that now. He’s in a good place and the players respect him and look up to him.
“But he’s not in the team as a cheerleader. He’s in the team because he’s a bloody good player. And he keeps churning out consistent performances that we don’t take for granted.”
Asked about his contract situation, Lennon said: “It will depend on how he’s feeling and how he’s playing at the time. He’s got another year after this one. We’ll take a view of that maybe this time next year, with him as well. But, the way he’s playing at the minute, it might cost us a few bob!”
Brown has never been a regular scorer – his double at Hampden at the weekend was his first since 2014 – but Lennon confessed he would be pleased if his skipper pitches in with a few more goals in the coming months.
“He does all right,” he said. “Considering he’s a holding midfielder, a bona fide No.6. He scored a couple of really important goals last year. And he’s come up again with two against Hibs.
"We’re getting goals from everywhere. Callum McGregor scored again, which I’m delighted with, because that’s him on five or so for the season. (James) Forrest is scoring, (Odsonne) Edouard, (Mohamed) Elyounoussi, (Ryan) Christie, so it’s the sum of all those parts, really.
“But if Scott is then weighing in with goals, on top of what he already does for the team, I’m delighted with that.”
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