by Joe McHugh Neil Lennon expects Robbie Keane to excel in the red hot atmosphere of tomorrow's Rangers-Celtic clash.
An away win is essential if Celtic are to retain an interest in this season's SPL title with the hopes of the hoops support pinned firmly on Keane who is likely to play at Ibrox despite missing training for most of the week.
Lennon has seen it all in almost a decade at Celtic and happily admits that there is no tried and tested recipe for success in this this fixture.
At lunchtime tomorrow Ibrox will be a pumped up madhouse of passion with the man from Lurgan believing that the key to success is to avoid being carried away by the frenzy of the fans.
Lennon said: “Robbie is experienced enough and will be looking forward to this match, he'll be very motivated.
“At times you can be too fired up, you have to tone things down a wee bit but Robbie is experienced enough to handle it.
“He's looking forward to the game, he's waited a long time to play in this fixture, it's a great game for him because the importance of it is mammoth.
“It'll be helter-skelter to start off with but once you get through that initial 15/20 minute period you have to try and stamp your authority on the game.”
Lennon added: “You need to feed off the atmosphere and enjoy it. It's very intense but you have to show controlled aggression.
“You can tell players all you want but until they go out there and experience it for themselves there's not really much you can do. Some will revel in it, some won't.
“The fans are all telling you to get stuck in but you just have to be professional in your own mind, keep a cool head and play the game.
“Obviously you are desperate to win the game but you have to be cold in your mind, in my experience the first goal is really important.
“Whoever gets the first goal in these games invariably goes on to win it or at least doesn't get beat.”
Four years ago at Ibrox Lennon lined up alongside Roy Keane as Celtic eased themselves towards the title thanks to a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Majik Zurawski.
The former Manchester United skipper strolled through that match with Lennon impressed by the clinical approach of his midfield partner.
Lennon recalled: “Roy Keane was one of the greatest players of his generation, it was just another big game in a catalogue of big matches for him.
“He was very calm in the dressing room, he wasn't a ranter or raver, he was mature enough by then to know better.
“Anything that he said was controlled, on the pitch he was a bit more aggressive but you are talking about a player with an unbelievable will to win.
“When I joined Celtic Martin O'Neill told me that my first game would be a blur and he was right.
“My first game against Rangers was a League Cup semi-final at Hampden, we won 3-1 and there was three players sent off!
“The first 45 minutes flew by, fortunately the next fixture was also against Rangers so I knew exactly what was coming and I was more prepared for it.
“Everyone handles things differently and I'm looking forward to seeing Robbie playing against Rangers."
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