NEIL Lennon is delighted with the way that his squad have been working since they’ve returned to training, and with the players working at the Loughborough University complex this week, the Celtic manager believes that it’s another important step in the preparations for the new season.

The Scottish champions will kick off the 2020/21 campaign with a home game against Hamilton Accies on Sunday, August 2, and the Hoops boss is anticipating a momentous season ahead. It’s one that he and his players are relishing.

Speaking to Celtic TV from Loughborough University, Neil Lennon said: “It’s important to get the boys away. We’ve had a few hard weeks back at Lennoxtown, so this really breaks up the pre-season for us.

“The players are enjoying it, the facility is magnificent, the pitches are in mint condition and training has gone very well so far, so it’s just all part of the preparation and the players are working very hard.

“We’re trying to ramp it up now because we’re coming in to the games pretty soon and they haven’t played a competitive game in over four months now, so it’s important we try and get some match rhythm and a competitive edge into the training.

“It’s been a long break but they’ve come back in good condition and their condition is improving all the time.”

And the manager also believes that the pre-season preparations will be beneficial to the newer members of the squad such as Patryk Klimala and Ismaila Soro, as well as the likes of Christopher Jullien and Boli Bolingoli, who joined up with the team last July when the European qualifiers had already started.

“They’re starting to really integrate well so I’m delighted by both of them (Klimala and Soro),” said the manager. “It was just a short turnaround when they came in back in January through to March, and they’ve had a good pre-season.

“Chris Jullien has had his first proper full pre-season, Boli is the same and Moi Elyounoussi too, so hopefully these guys will get the benefit of that. There are not too many changes, and that’s really important going into the new season.”

Neil Lennon: players' pre-season progress is going well