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Stephen Pearson played well in pre-season for Celtic

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has slapped a "not for sale" sign on midfielder Stephen Pearson after a �600,000 bid from Derby County.

Pearson's agent, Willie Mackay, had urged Celtic to make clear whether Pearson was wanted by Gordon Strachan.

And the Celtic manager said: "He can do a lot for the future of the club.

"There will be systems where he will be valuable and he is not going anywhere at all. His enthusiasm for the game - as against Chelsea - is fantastic."

The 24-year-old has spent most of his time on the substitute's bench since joining Celtic from Motherwell in 2004.

It is believed that Celtic had accepted Derby's bid but refused to allow Pearson to leave until they signed another left-sided midfielder.

Meantime, he impressed in the midweek friendly draw at Stamford Bridge.

"He knows exactly what I think about him and he is happy about that," said Strachan.

"I have only reassured how much I appreciate him and his team-mates appreciate him."

Strachan has also dismissed suggestions that captain Neil Lennon was set to leave the club after the midfielder found himself on the bench for the defeat away to Hearts last weekend.

"He said he is disappointed, but I looked up in the dictionary and disappointment doesn't mean crunch talks, walking out or leaving, it just means disappointment," added Strachan.

"I don't know where people pick up the dictionaries or what schools they went to."

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