New Celtic coach Neil Lennon does not think he has been brought back to Parkhead in a talismanic role to help the club hold on to their title.The 36-year-old left Celtic Park last summer after seven successful seasons and had playing spells at Nottingham Forest and Wycombe this season before being invited by manager Gordon Strachan to return to his former club in a coaching capacity earlier in the week.

The Irishman will be in the dugout for Saturday's SPL game against Motherwell as the Hoops try to close the six-point gap Rangers have opened up over them at the top of the table.

Lennon's return is sure to be a boost to Celtic fans who have witnessed only one win in the last six games, but he insists it will take more than that to overcome Rangers.

He said: "I don't believe in talismans. I believe in hard work and playing hard football at the right time.

"We have eight massive games left. We have to dig in and try to find a way to win each game and I will help as much I can.

"I will let the players know that it will mean a hell of a lot to a lot of people.

"This is a good club. I was away from it for a year and I will be telling the players that once you leave here everywhere else is downhill.

"You will not get a better opportunity in your whole career to make a real name for yourself and if you do well then you will be revered for the rest of your life."

Lennon does not believe that the challenge confronting the Hoops in insurmountable.

He added: "It's going to be very, very difficult because every game is a must-win game - including two home games against Rangers.

"It's a challenge but a great challenge for the players.

"To be champions we will have to go somewhere where not many teams have been before.

"We are relying on maybe somebody else doing us a favour along the way but that can happen.

"So we have to take the bull by the horns and play, good, professional football from here on in and hope that we get the breaks at the right time."

Lennon believes that Strachan will stay on at Celtic regardless of the outcome of the title race.

He said: "I wouldn't come here for eight weeks then go.

"I would imagine he will be here for the foreseeable future."

Strachan alluded to coach Tommy Burns' on-going battle with cancer when he explained why Lennon has been brought to Parkhead so late in the season.

"It has nothing whatsoever to do with the (recent) games", Strachan said. "Neil had a role for the summer if he wanted it.

"We only changed our minds in the last couple of weeks because we have a shortfall in coaches.

"We put that to Neil and he wanted to do it right away. If he didn't want to do it, the job I had planned for him would have been there in the summer.

"I really don't know (if the club will get a boost).

It wasn't planned that way. It just so happened that it happened just now."

Strachan believes Lennon has all the attributes needed to be a valuable addition to his backroom staff.

"I think Neil is going to be a good coach," Strachan added.

"There is role for him between now and the end of the season and in the summer his role will be defined..

"He is an example not only of a Celtic player but a winning Celtic player.

"He is going to help the coaching staff here and continue our challenge in the league"

More Football News from TEAMtalk