HOOPS manager, Neil Lennon is delighted with the UEFA Europa League draw held in Monaco today (Friday) that sees his Celtic side in Group E, partnering Italian giants Lazio for the first time as well as coming up once more against recent foes, Stade Rennais and FCR Cluj.

A superb 4-1 win over Swedish champions, AIK in Stockholm last night was the second instalment in a 6-1 aggregate win in the play-offs that delivers yet more European action to Celtic Park in the run-up to Christmas.

The Irishman said: “It’s a great draw. There’s a couple of glamour games there and a chance to maybe exact some sort of retribution on Cluj as well, so we’re delighted to be in there and delighted with the group. There are a lot of big games to look forward to, which is exactly what we want.”

On meeting Cluj again so soon after the Champions League clashes earlier this month, he added: “You always think in the back of your mind that it might be a possibility with the teams being in different pots. It’s come out that way, but I wouldn’t make too big an issue of it. By that stage, hopefully we’ll be at full steam ahead, and we’re playing very well at the minute.

“On the basis of last night, we had a great performance and we just want to maintain that form as we go along.”

The Celts also met the French Cup holders in a pre-season friendly last month and the manager will get the opportunity to run the rule over Stade Rennais again – a team he also came up against in 2011/12.

He said: “They are a good side, they won the cup last year which is no mean feat in beating PSG in the final. They’ve got some very talented, quick players. We’ve met them before in the Europa League and have had a couple of positive results against them, so we’re looking for more of the same really.

“And, of course, Lazio is a great draw, it’s very glamorous and it’s a trip to Rome as well, I think that’s something everyone here will look forward to.

“I feel we’ve got the making of a good side. I’m not going to make predictions, but I think that we can make a good impact on the group.

“After playing Cluj recently, that would be the first thing that would probably come into the players’ heads, and with Lazio and Rennes, we’ll think we can have a real go at both of those teams.”

The manager’s confidence is backed up by the stunning 4-1 win over AIK when the Swedish side must have harboured hopes of overturning Celtic’s 2-0 lead from the first leg on their own patch.

Neil Lennon said: “It was an outstanding performance from start to finish. We scored four away from home in Europe, we haven’t done that for a long, long time and the quality of the goals was excellent.

“The quality of the performance was excellent and it was a pressure game obviously, but the players handled it brilliantly. We beat a very good side comprehensively over two legs, so there is a lot to be positive about.”

He added: “The front four last night were brilliant, they looked a real threat, and then Scott Brown and Callum McGregor backed that up to give us a real platform. Browny was outstanding last night and is really back to his best again, and Callum has just been so consistent over the piece.

“But the front four really excited us. Odsonne Edouard is in great form, Ryan Christie has been outstanding and James Forrest is great to watch when he's playing like that. His goal was sublime and his all-round game last night was really high quality.

“So we’re delighted with that and we’ve got good decent back-up with Bayo coming on and Lewis Morgan scored and there’s a few others bubbling under as well, so it augurs well.

“I’ve been excited throughout the majority of the season. There’s been a bit of negativity about the place, you can understand that to a certain degree but, when you’re scoring goals at a very fast rate, then we’re very positive and there’s a lot to be happy about.”

Manager: We go into Europa League group stage with confidence