NEIL LENNON can't hide his delight at the prospect of European football all the way to mid-December - even though he admits his players are already running on fumes.

The immediate bonus for the Celtic manager is the time he is now going to be afforded to get rest into his Bhoys, get injured players back - and add new faces.

Today, Lennon finds out which team they must face in the play-off for a place in the Champions League group stage.

That would bring with it another cheque, for at least £15million, and swell the funds to strengthen the side before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

With £17.5m taken in from the sale of Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper, and another £2.5m on its way as Kelvin Wilson rejoins Nottingham Forest, there is already money to spend.

But the loss of the key trio has added to how stretched the squad already is, with Lennon admitting their energy levels are on empty less than a tenth of the way into the campaign.

With this week's tie against Elfsborg now ticked off, Lennon has once again turned his attention to pursuing the players - particularly a striker - on his shopping list.

He has already splashed out £6.4m on four new men - Virgil van Dijk, Amido Balde, Steven Mouyokolo and Derk Boerrigter - but wants at least another two quality signings.

"We're going to work hard to get a few players in," he said before adding: "The players are running on empty."

Lennon might have to settle for one before the play-off round, then another once their place in the group stage is secured.

Tomorrow he is expected to give several of his fringe players a run out against Liverpool in the Dublin Decider.

Then there is a very welcome free midweek before the SPFL Premiership resumes with a trip to Aberdeen.

Lennon is sure this break has come at precisely the right time as Charlie Mulgrew - who damaged a knee against Elfsborg - joins an injury list which already includes Boerrigter (ankle), van Dijk (broken foot bone) and Tom Rogic (knee).

As he prepared to fly to Dublin, Lennon said: "Under the circumstances, that was a massive result for us on Wednesday.

"It guarantees us European football, and that's really important.

"Hopefully it buys us 10 or 12 days to get a few players back.

"I'm hoping Boerrigter will return along with van Dijk, and that will strengthen us even more.

"We are a little bit light at the minute. There is no question of that.

"But I am delighted with the players who have given us everything they have got."

Lennon can't hide his pride - and relief - at having come through two qualifying rounds against such a testing backdrop.

"We have lost three of our best players, and it is a difficult period for us," he admitted.

"These games are very hard for us at this stage of the season, but we have now negotiated four."