Celtic hitman Gary Hooper is set to sign a new contract at the Glasgow club in the near future according to manager Neil Lennon.

Hooper has been in stunning form yet again this season, taking his overall Celtic goal tally to 63 goals in just 102 starts.

The English striker has also been mentioned to be in with a chance of impressing Roy Hodgson ahead of future England squad announcements and now that Celtic have qualified for the knock out stages of the Champions League, Hooper will be keen to show what he can do.

Southampton have been heavily linked with a January move for the striker who played for boss Nigel Adkins in their time at Scunthorpe together and a chance to play in the Premier League could help Hooper’s international chances.

However, Lennon is hopeful that a new deal will be struck very soon and that Hooper has a long future at Celtic Park.

"I think we can get an agreement pretty soon," Lennon  told the Daily Record.

"I speak to Gary once a week on it and he's comfortable with it.

“I hope to see (Celtic chief executive) Peter Lawwell in the next day or so and he'll come up with a solution. I certainly don't think we're far away."

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