The striker has failed to fire since arriving at the start of the season.

The Hoops boss has patiently waited for Bangura to recover from the knee injury which has hampered him throughout his time at the club and took the chance to pitch him on from the start against St Johnstone last night.

The Sierra Leone international played the ball on for Anthony Stokes to score the only goal of the game, and later hit a post.

Lennon reckons Bangura's desperation to prove his value to the side is making him snatch at chances like that one.

But the manager has reassured him no-one is writing him off, and that he will be given every opportunity again when the new season kicks off.

Lennon said: "Mo came in more or less on the last day of the transfer window in August, and has had three or four months out.

"So he has only been fit for two or three of the months he's been here, and was hampered by the knee injury.

"He looked fresh last night and linked the play up pretty well first half.

"He deserved a goal for his performance and was a bit unlucky with the one which hit the post."

Another striker who has struggled to make his mark at the club, Pawel Brozek, will be given the chance to get match time ahead of the European Champion- ships.

However, all the signs are the option Celtic hold on the Polish striker, who arrived on loan from Trabzsbonspor in January, will not be taken up.

Mark Wilson is bringing the curtain down on his much more illustrious Celtic career, and Lennon paid his own tribute to the defender who captained the side last night.

He said: "Mark has been a tremendous servant to Celtic and we wish him well."

Lennon is already making plans for replacements and said: "I'm hoping to nip down to see some Championship games next week. But, again, shopping in England is becoming more expensive.

"To be fair, the Championship has been good to us with the likes Gary Hooper, Adam Matthews, Joe Ledley and Kris Commons.

"So it is about trying to find the right players at the right price to make us better."

Lennon watched from the stand as he began a three-match touchline ban for his behaviour at the end of last month's Scottish Cup semi-final.

He has a further three-match ban suspended for a year and said: "I got a fair hearing and I think the punishment is pretty fair. I have apologised to the referee, and he has responded, and we move on."