 Neil Lennon is keen to keep Robbie Keane at Celtic Park next season. The Republic of Ireland player has scored and average goal a game in his 12 games since signing on loan from Spurs in January. Most people, including the player himself, expect Keane to return to London in the summer. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has also made it clear that there was no chance that his striker would remain at Parkhead. Ahead of today's Active Nation Scottish Cup Hampden semi-final against Ross County, Keane, not for the first time, avoided answering the question on all Hoops fans lips, saying: "From day one I've said that I don't want to speak about it until the end of the season." However, interim boss Lennon is willing to use some desperate measures to persuade the former Liverpool striker to stay in the east end of Glasgow. Lennon said: "I'm not giving up on him staying. It will ultimately be Robbie's decision but I will be begging him every day from here on in to stay if he can. We need that calibre of player at a club like this, we need a 25-30 goals-a-season player if we can go out and get them. He is world class. His pedigree, calibre and his record speaks for itself. He's a very intelligent footballer, he has a cool head under pressure and is a good finisher, and he has that touch of charisma that all the good players have. He can stand up against anyone in Britain and parts of Europe as well and he's been a huge player for us in the short time he has been here." Lennon's own future will be decided at the end of the season but the Irishman admits defeat against the First Division side would "diminish" his chances of getting the post on a full-time basis. Asked about the implications of what would be a shock defeat, Lennon said: "It would diminish my opportunity. It won't all hinge on the one game but ultimately I would be disappointed if we didn't go through and I would certainly have a look at myself and ask the questions as to why. But I am trying to be as positive as possible and I think we have a decent enough chance of going through. It's a huge game for us in terms of our season. We are two games away from winning a bit of silverware and winning would give the players an incentive for the rest of the season. We are on a hiding to nothing really but that's what it is here most weeks. If we win we are expected to win and if we lose it's a disaster. But it's a challenge and I enjoy the challenge. I think I have got a good chance (of getting the job). But no matter what happens I will view it as a positive experience. I am relishing it and whether it goes wrong or doesn't go wrong I will put the experience to good use the next time, wherever that will be." If Celtic do fail then Lennon insists it will not be for lack of preparation. He said: "As a player you always thought about the game but this is the next step. The real difference is that you are looking after 30 different personalities whereas you are looking after yourself as a player. You don't stop thinking about things, you can never switch off and I have enjoyed it. How hard it is to pick a team, pick the right players for the eventualities that might happen, things that you never thought about as a player. I have watched Ross County all week - my head is buzzing. I saw them against Hibs and Dunfermline and I saw them four weeks ago against Partick Thistle. They are a good team, a confident team, who are well organised and well drilled and they will be giving it everything they have got." |