Neil Lennon should be targetting the Betfred Cup as his number one priority

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If Celtic are to have a good season under Neil Lennon then so much of it will depend on the start we make.

The Northern Irishman has been a largely unpopular appointment so far. The vast majority of fans were dismayed at what they perceived as the club taking a backwards step. They wanted a Rodgers-like glamour name who could continue to take the team forward.

Lennon and Celtic can silence those critics by doing one thing: winning. They will go into season 2019/2020 as the holders of every domestic trophy and with that comes added pressure.

While the European qualifiers are undoubtedly the most crucial for the club in a financial sense, it may be a less reputable tournament where Lennon’s Celtic find their feet.

The Betfred Cup

Celtic have won the tournament in all three years of its current format. If we claimed a fourth then it could signal a big turnaround in fan perception towards Lennon.

In 2017 Brendan Rodgers labelled the competition as the most important going. He told the Scottish Sun: “This is always the most important. I think it is a great trophy to win.

“It was a very important one for us last year, something tangible to show for our growth and work.”

Rodgers’ words may well be echoed by his compatriot this summer. You can’t overestimate the importance in Lennon’s Celtic making a good start. The Betfred Cup is the only trophy Celtic can win in the first half of the season so it has to be right up there in the team’s priorities.

Lennon has never won the tournament as a manager. A maiden victory would get the fans right behind the team as well as send out a message to our rivals. It may just be the most important trophy for Celtic once again next season.