The new contract Neil Lennon signed yesterday morning was described somewhere as "bumper".

He had a laugh at that when he spoke openly and elegantly in front of the assembled media pack about today's SPFL game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle - one of the few smiles Lennon has cracked since last Tuesday's defeat in Kazakhstan.

His contract contains no further remuneration - as he was at pains to point out -however it did contain one or two "tweaks."

Lennon did not divulge just what those minor changes were, preferring to remark they were of a confidential nature, but it is fair to infer there may have been a release clause inserted into his deal.

Surprisingly, though, given his accomplishments in the Champions League last season there has been no pay rise on the table for him.

Lennon, though, insists he is not unduly concerned about his financial situation at the club as he strives to recapture the displays of last season once more.

"It's the same contract. There were just some legal stipulations that I wanted tweaked a little bit. I signed it on Friday morning so I'm happy to proceed. It's still a rolling deal," he said.

"I'm well paid. The club have looked after me very well from the day I walked in as a player. I've got a good contract and good backing.

"I'll always feel while I'm in this job that I owe people something - whether it's the people who employ me, the supporters or the players I bring in. It's just the way I am. I will always feel I've got a responsibility to someone.

"I won't ever feel I've done it all and I don't need to give anything back. I always want to give. So that's why the last few days have been difficult. That [the defeat to Shakhter Karagandy] was hard to take and I want nothing more than to succeed.

"The priority for me is the football side of things [not money]. I have a huge challenge now - can I take this team into the Champions League without three of the more important players from years gone by? That is a huge challenge in itself."

The Hoops boss insisted that there have been no offers or calls coming his way this summer as the speculation linked him with a move south, but if he can maintain Celtic's profile in the Champions League, it is fair to say that others will almost certainly take note.

There will be a few sleepless nights ahead this week as he plots a way up the mountain his team have set for him in terms of qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League again this season.

Trailing Shakhter 2-0, Celtic need to score three and keep a clean sheet. On reflection, Lennon maintained he would still have paired Steven Mouyokolo and Virgil van Dijk together but he admitted watching the game was hard.

"I haven't got blind faith in the players, but I do trust them," he said.

"When you are watching the game the other night you are so frustrated because our build-up play was good, our set-pieces were good but we couldn't put the ball in the net.

"The one goal would have changed the whole psychology of the tie, but I do still think there is a lot of mileage in it, I really do. I think we can score goals on Wednesday."

Lennon was also dismissive of the theory that Celtic gambled by not signing players before the tie against the Kazakhstan side.

"There was no gamble," he said. "We have tried hard to bring players in. It is frustrating we couldn't get players in before the tie, but again is that an easy way out of it?

"You just buy your way out of trouble. I've never done that and I don't like to do it, I think that is an easy excuse to make yourself look better.

"We have tried three strikers and we've not made the mark with them. We have exercised due diligence on players and there will be bids in the next few days.

"I would say I need at least another three. You can't guarantee that you will get it.

"You want value for money and a resale value. You don't always get that but we're working very hard."

Landing a place among the elite company of the Champions League would strengthen Celtic's hand when it comes to negotiating with prospective signings, which adds to the pressure of Wednesday's game.

Certainly, though, Lennon believes that if Celtic were to prevail against Shakhter and progress, it would be an achievement that surpassed last season's.

"It would be the best thing I've done here if we could do it," he said.

First and foremost, though, Lennon has a game against Inverness this afternoon. The Hoops boss has question marks over the fitness of Georgios Samaras, Anthony Stokes, James Forrest, Derk Boerrigter and Kris Commons.

They will be assessed before the game, but it is Forrest's injury that is causing the most worry.

The winger will see a neurologist this week as he is hindered by sciatic pain which is making him drag his right leg slightly. The fact that Forrest has been bothered consistently with injury over the last 10 months is a source of vexation and worry for Lennon, as well as the player himself.

And the number of players missing from training yesterday gives him a headache.

"In terms of attacking options we are limited and we won't know how we are until later today," said Lennon.

"Derk is a frustrating one too because we have only had him for half-an-hour but he looked really good.

"He has a bit of bruising on the bone and the good news is that it hasn't deteriorated.

"He did a wee bit of work on Monday but looked very ginger on it and we couldn't take a chance. Fingers crossed, we're hoping that we'll see a significant improvement in the next three or four days.

"We also want to see if we can get to the bottom of the problem with James."