Celtic captain Scott Brown expects a win on Sunday for Neil Lennon against Rangers will open the door to a permanent managerial contract for Lennon with the Parkhead side.

The 47-year-old took the post on an interim basis the immediate aftermath of Brendan Rodgers’ swift exit to Premier League club Leicester last month. Lennon has won three games and drawn one, but this Sunday’s meeting with Rangers will be seen as significant in determining his future with the club.

And Brown believes that a potential win against Steven Gerrard’s side, which would take Celtic 13 points clear at the top, will be sufficient underlining Lennon’s credentials for a second spell in the dugout at Celtic.

“I think it’s the biggest game of our season – the next game,” said Brown. “To win against Rangers at Parkhead, I think the gaffer would be made. It would be fantastic for him, us and the support.

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“We still have to win in our style and play attractive football and we have been able to do that.”

There have been a few question marks that have lingered over the potential of Lennon moving into the club on a permanent basis among the Celtic support. Former Everton and Manchester United manager Davie Moyes has been credited with an interest in the job this week but Brown is fully prepared to get behind Lennon if the Celtic board opt to retain his services.

Certainly, if the former Parkhead captain finishes the season with the league title and the Scottish Cup as Celtic bid for a unique treble treble, it would be difficult to look beyond him.

“The manager has been fantastic,” said Brown. “He got chucked in at the deep end right away but he has dealt with his situation really well, he speaks really well in front of the lads, training has been the exact same as what it was with Brendan and the lads have set the tone and know it is a fresh challenge. Everyone knows there is a new manager and everyone will get a chance so they have all upped their game.”

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Brown and Lennon have a relationship that stretches back to playing while Lennon also managed Brown in his first time in charge of Celtic, with the midfielder pointing to a more measured coach than the one who left the club in 2014.

“He is calmer. He is more chilled,” said Brown. “He has been away and learned a lot. He was thrown in at the deep end when Tony [Mowbray] got the sack. He dealt with that fine and then he got the contract after that. He is more mellowed and he’s enjoying every single moment of it.

“We have won seven trophies out of seven and if there is any man who is going to fill his shoes it is definitely Neil. He believes in himself and he has been brilliant. Quite a lot of the lads were here when he was here the first time so they know him and other guys know him from Hibs but he has been great about the place and he has been fantastic with me.