Lennon lines up Ljungberg

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE:THE FORMER Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg was due in Glasgow last night to hold talks about a possible contract at Celtic.

The 33-year-old has been without a club since leaving the Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire in October. Celtic officials have been keen to play down the notion that Ljungberg will be on trial, although he is expected to train with the first-team squad this week.

“It was his agent who contacted us,” said the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon. “He has played 50 games over the past 18 months in America, so he is fit. He has got great experience. If he likes the look of us and we like the look of him, we’ll look to get a deal done.”

Since leaving Arsenal in 2007, the former Sweden international has had a nondescript time at West Ham and turned out for Seattle Sounders before a short stint with Chicago.

Lennon has been unsuccessful in attempts to sign high-profile players such as Jimmy Bullard, Sol Campbell, Craig Bellamy and David James.

Celtic had looked set to draw a fourth home SPL game in succession before two stoppage-time goals saw off the stern challenge of St Johnstone and delivered a 2-0 win yesterday.

Cha Du-ri and Ki Sung-yueng scored and it is their imminent departure to join up with the South Korea squad for the Asian Cup that will heighten Lennon’s interest in Ljungberg.

Lennon, who again bemoaned wastefulness in the final third of the pitch, hoped the win would kick-start his team’s stuttering Parkhead form.

“We just need a bit of composure and quality, which is what was lacking,” he said.

Rangers remain two points clear at the top of the table courtesy of a comprehensive 4-1 win at Motherwell. A Kenny Miller double, added to a Vladimir Weiss strike and an own goal from Steven Saunders, sufficed for the defending SPL champions.

Managerless Motherwell’s consolation arrived from John Sutton.

Miller, whose contract expires next summer, has 22 goals this season.

“It has been an excellent return from Kenny considering quite a number of games have been postponed,” said the Rangers manager, Walter Smith.

Craig Brown’s first match in charge of Aberdeen proved successful, Scott Vernon scoring the winner in a 2-1 win at Hibernian. In the Highlands, St Mirren recovered from the loss of an early Lee Cox goal to secure a 2-1 victory over Inverness courtesy of Steven Thomson’s brace.

Dundee United’s scheduled meeting with Hamilton and Hearts’ visit to Kilmarnock were postponed.

Guardian Service