Celtic boss Neil Lennon has backed Martin O'Neill to return to football at Sunderland.

Lennon, who played under O'Neill at Parkhead and Leicester, has backed his former boss to make a return to the game.

"If he gets the job it would be brilliant to see him back in the game," Lennon said on Thursday.

"He has a penchant for lifting clubs. Sunderland is a huge club and I know that as a boy growing up it was his favourite team, so there might be an emotional tie there for him.

"But I think he is just ready to get back into the game and if he is offered the job, whether he takes it or not, I hope that if that is what he wants to do, we will see him back in the Premier League sooner rather than later."