AT LAST, Neil Lennon can see a light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel.

And, for once, it is not an oncoming train threatening to derail Celtic's season.

On the back of the 2-1 win over Dunfermline, which takes the Hoops to within seven points of Rangers in the title race, the Parkhead boss is preparing to welcome back some very important and sorely-missed players.

"Scott Brown and Kelvin Wilson are training today, so are Glenn Loovens and Charlie Mulgrew," revealed Lennon with no little relief.

The return of skipper Brown and central defender Wilson after such lengthy lay- offs will give everyone around the club a massive lift at just the right time.

And Lennon is determined this will not be undermined by growing speculation that Brown may soon be lost to him permanently because the new contract he has agreed remains unsigned due a dispute over payments claimed by the player's advisors.

Newcastle are back on Brown's trail, along with Hamburg and Feyenoord, all looking to snap him up on a Bosman in January.

Lennon admitted: "With this situation the way it is, there will be a few clubs hovering about.

"So we hope to speak to Scott's advisors this week."

If an agreement can be reached, it would be one more concern removed for a manager who appears to be spending every waking hour fire-fighting.

His main focus remains on reclaiming the SPL title, and results like last night's add to the growing belief this is not mission impossible.

However, it could, and should, have been a much more enjoyable evening for Lennon and the Celtic support who watched their team blast out the blocks to go 2-0 up through Gary Hooper and James Forrest within 12 minutes, then spurn several excellent chances, including a Ki Sung-Yueng missed penalty in the second half.

That left the door open for Dunfermline to stage a late rally, and a goal from Andy Barrowman four minutes from time meant the final whistle was almost drowned out by the sound of alarm bells ringing around the ground.

Lennon's frustration that his side could not make the game safe was matched only by his frustration that what was, on the whole, a dominating performance, would draw unnecessary criticism.

"You are always wary because managers are never really at ease," he admitted. "We even spelled out at half-time the dangers they could envisage in the second half because, if you don't put any team away, you give them a little bit of encouragement.

"I'm also disappointed with the goal we conceded because I felt that could have been avoided.

"But, overall, I thought we were terrific, and some of the criticism levelled at the players is unjustified."

Ironically, the goal came when David Graham played a pass inside Joe Ledley, who had enjoyed a man-of-the-match performance at left- back.

Lennon was quick to shield the Welshman from criticism, however, and said: "I would not blame Joe for the goal. It should have been stopped at source a long time earlier.

"Eventually, it was a good strike from the lad. But, again, I had no criticism of my back four because I thought they handled things pretty well, in the main.

"I was just annoyed that, going forward, with the talent we had out there and the chances they created, we did not win by more.

"It could easily have been six or seven, and that is not me exaggerating, nor being disrespectful to our opponents, Dunfermline.

"The chances we failed to put away in the first half, then in the second when (Anthony) Stokes hit the post and Ki missed the penalty, were not half-chances. They were clear- cut scoring opportunities.

"Not putting them away gives teams encouragement when they should be dead and buried.

"It doesn't matter if the opposition is an SPL team or a Third Division side, psychologically, if you are 3-0 up, then the game is done."

Nevertheless, eventually it was a case of job done and three points secured in the first of three games at Celtic Park in the space of a week.

Lennon understands better than most that playing at home, where expectation is so high, demands a strong mentality which many of his young players are still struggling to fully develop.

But the manager insisted: "There is no need for the anxiety, either.

"Sometimes that emanates from the crowd, and I can understand their frustration when they should have been sitting comfortably enjoying basically a rout.

"But, that's football."

He went on: "Sometimes they let their frustrations get the better of them. And so do I, to be fair.

"But I'm not going to criticise the players for last night because it was a good performance and a decent win."

Not that everyone in the crowd appreciated the fact their side had just made it four wins a row for the first time this season.

And, at full-time, Lennon got particularly upset by one unhappy individual seated directly behind the dugout.

It was an indication of just how fraught life can be when you are the man expected to come up with all the answers.

Lennon said: "I was frustrated because I'd have loved to have seen some of the good moves we were putting together ending with the ball in the back of the net.

"Then we got a bit sloppy with the ball and tried to walk into the net at times. Overall, though, to create as many chances as we did was very, very pleasing, and the football was good."