NEIL Lennon is looking forward to the first Glasgow derby of the season after what has been a challenging couple of weeks for the club.

And the Celtic manager said the players are determined to put on a performance to make the fans proud while urging them to stay at home, follow the guidance and watch the game with their family.

“Please enjoy the game at home,” the Celtic manager said. “Stay with your family and don’t put yourself or anyone else in jeopardy with every that’s going on and, hopefully we can put in a performance that you can be proud of and enjoy the game. But please, don’t travel.

“It’s not ideal. We’re all in the same situation and we’re all doing our best to come out of this as quickly as possible, but going out, going to other places or going to other towns is not acceptable and we would urge our supporters to please stay at home and enjoy the game with their family.”

The Hoops go into Saturday’s match in a rich vein of form, with eight wins and just one draw from their opening nine league matches, and with the knowledge that a victory over their city rivals will put them back on top of the table, with a game in hand.

Celtic will be without Nir Bitton and Hatem Elhamed, who both tested positive for COVID while away on international duty with Israel. Odsonne Eduoard, who also tested positive for the virus while with the French Under-21 squad, reported back to Lennoxtown today (Friday), and his fitness will be assessed.

Ryan Christie, meanwhile, has been in self-isolation since having to withdraw from the Scotland squad following Stuart Armstrong’s positive test, and despite two subsequent negative tests for the Celtic player, along with reports from England that Kieran Tierney, who was also put into self-isolation, could be given permission to play this weekend for Arsenal, at the moment, Christie looks set to miss out on the derby.

“Since this story broke about the three of them, Ryan’s had two tests with us, both negative, so from our point of view, he is good to go,” said Neil Lennon.

“And we’d be very confused, and want answers, if Kieran is allowed to play and Ryan is refused to play. It would be very, very confusing and I think our supporters would want to know the answer to that as well. So at the moment, it’s still very much in the air.

“Peter and the board have been pushing this from day one, but we’ve had no clarification. If anything, we’ve just been met by complete resistance so far.

“Ryan was devastated. They felt they had followed the procedures properly, social distancing and they didn’t come into contact, and he’s probably guilty by association. But like I said, he’s negative and he has been for the past week to 10 days, so you’ve got a fit and able player not being allowed to play which, if we find this scenario does pan out that Kieran can play, is very confusing.

“It’s difficult, but our preparations have been without Ryan, and it would probably be folly to change that now, but we would still like have him available for the squad if possible. And what we’re asking is, if it’s play for one, why is it not okay for the other. That’s all, and I think our supporters would like to know that as well.”

While Odsonne Edouard will be assessed, the manager confirmed that Albian Ajeti has been training this week and is fit and available for selection, as are all the other players who had been away on international duty.

Neil Lennon: We want our fans to stay safe at home and cheer us on