Team news

Lennon hails Brown Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes there are similarities between himself and Scott Brown - but insists his skipper is a better player.

The midfielder has had a big impact on the Hoops' current impressive form since making his return from an ankle injury at the end of November.

The Celtic captain has now been rewarded for his efforts by being named Clydesdale Bank Premier League player of the month for January.

Lennon said: "I'm delighted for him, I think he deserves it.

"He is playing with great authority on the pitch and he is an excellent captain.

"He has the respect of the players in the dressing room, which is very important to be a captain of a big club. I think he has matured.

"Getting over the ankle injury, I always felt we would get Scott back to his best and now we are seeing Scott at his best." Asked if he sees similarities between himself as a player and Brown, the manager added: "I do, yes. In terms of personality.

"I think he's got more attributes than I had in terms of his running power and his eye for a goal.

"I'm just very pleased with how he has progressed in the role he has been given. He conducts himself very well on the park.

"He has matured a lot quicker than most people have done. I think he's had to, with the responsibility of the armband.

"He's a tough boy. He's mentally tough, he's physically tough. He's not dirty. He looks after himself and he looks after his team-mates very, very well." Celtic face Hearts in the SPL on Wednesday night and Lennon said: "We have a chance to extend our lead at the top of the table and just try to put pressure on everybody else.

"Confidence is good. The team is playing very well and they are taking a lot of pride in what they are doing at the moment." Polish striker Pawel Brozek could make his debut but defender Mikael Lustig (hip) remains on the sidelines while fellow new signing Rabiu Ibrahim, who has not featured due to red tape, is also not in the squad.

Goalkeeper Marian Kello does not know if he will play for Hearts again after risking reprisals from owner Vladimir Romanov and the club's board for speaking out over his omission from the team.

Kello missed Sunday's 1-1 William Hill Scottish Cup draw with St Johnstone and is set to remain unavailable for selection against Celtic after clashing with the Hearts board over his refusal to move to Austria Vienna on transfer deadline day.

With the media assembled for the pre-match press conference ahead of the Celtic game, Kello opted to hold an impromptu briefing of his own to tell his side of the story.

"I don't know exactly what is going to happen," said Kello, who is out of contract at the end of the season and says he has not been offered a new deal.

"The situation is very difficult. They should show me respect. For example, if they want me to negotiate a new contract, don't force me out of here." Hearts' financial predicament is well documented, with a winding-up petition currently being processed through the Court of Session over an unpaid tax bill the club are confident of paying.

Kello appears to have angered Romanov and director Sergejus Fedotovas after the club missed out on a 100,000 euro (#83,000) fee for him.

Kello was unhappy at the 18-month contract offered and being coerced into the move.

He added: "I want to play for Hearts. They said they don't want me because next season, because of the money problem, they want to work with the youngsters.

"The club have signed two young keepers, I've been told. I don't figure in the future of the club. I was not offered a new contract. They forced me to go and they were saying `If you don't go, you might not play'." The 29-year-old Slovakia international had missed training last week with a back complaint but warmed up for the Saints match and was fit to play.

Kello said: "If I have a chance to play, I will play. I will play 100% because it was the club who gave me the chance to be here, to improve and to get into the (Slovakia) national team.

Hearts vs Celtic

Last modified 22:07 08/02/12

Celtic move four clear after romp Celtic stretched their lead over Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to four points with a 4-0 thrashing of Hearts at Tynecastle.

Seconds after Stephen Elliott's second-minute header appeared to cross the line before being blocked by Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley, Hoops skipper Scott Brown drove low past Jambos goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald for the opener.

Goals from midfielder Victor Wanyama and Ledley had the points secured by the interval before striker Gary Hooper concluded the romp on the hour with a typical poacher's goal from close range.

Neil Lennon's men extended their domestic winning run to 16 games to remain on course for the treble and on this form, they will take some stopping.

Ahead of what again turned out to be a controversial fixture, Lennon made one change, winger James Forrest replacing Kris Commons - who started on the bench along with new signing, striker Pawel Brozek.

Jambos boss Paulo Sergio made three changes with Danny Grainger, Mehdi Taouil and Andrew Driver coming in for injured David Templeton, suspended Ian Black and Rudi Skacel - who was named among the substitutes.

Hearts, facing the prospect of a winding up order next week if a tax bill is not paid to HMRC, had been the last team in Scotland to beat the Hoops, last October and who know what might have happened if they had got the first big decision of the game in their favour.

In the second minute Driver's corner from the right found Andy Webster at the back post and his header back across goal was met a couple of yards out by Elliott.

The Jambos' striker seemed certain to score but his header was blocked by Ledley, although television pictures suggested the ball was over the line before it was scrambled away by Parkhead keeper Fraser Forster.

However, there was no whistle from referee Willie Collum, or flag from assistant Andy Tait, to signal a goal.

Celtic raced up the park and when the ball broke to Brown, following a cross from James Forrest, he slammed the ball past MacDonald from 12 yards for his fourth goal in four games.

There was around 30 seconds between the two incidents and with Tynecastle in uproar Brown drove over the bar as the SPL leaders threatened again.

From then on it was all too easy for Celtic.

With Team GB coach Stuart Pearce watching from the main stand, there was more woe for Hearts in the 20th minute when they failed to clear properly a Charlie Mulgrew corner from the left.

Forrest returned the ball into the box and it broke for Wanyama who fired high past the helpless MacDonald.

The Gorgie men all but unravelled thereafter and in the 31st minute, after skipper Marius Zaliukas had conceded possession to Brown, they found themselves three down.

With the Jambos defence all over the place, Hooper fed Georgios Samaras down the left and he skipped easily past Ryan McGowan before crossing for Ledley to head into an empty net.

Mulgrew was booked seconds before the interval for diving in the box but it was little consolation for the home fans.

Gary Glen replaced Driver at the start of the second half but a recovery looked a tall order for the Edinburgh side.

Hearts were bullish and determined but continued to make unforced errors which drew cries of frustration from their fans, who might have sensed, rightly, that number four was on its way.

On the hour, Hooper set up Ledley and his low drive hit the far post and rebounded off Grainger for a corner.

Mulgrew fired the ball over and when Wanyama headed it back in the centre Hooper pounced to knock the ball over the line from barely a yard out.

The points were tagged, bagged and ready to go back to Glasgow.

Defender Daniel Majstorovic replaced Thomas Rogne, Anthony Stokes came on for Hooper and Poland striker Brozek made his debut in the 73rd minute when he took over from Brown.

In the 80th minute MacDonald made a good diving save from Samaras' powerful long-range drive and this time Hearts defended the corner comfortably.