Neil Lennon admitted Aiden McGeady might have played his last game for Celtic as he revealed the winger would not play Braga.

For the second time in five days, McGeady was today missing from the Hoops squad 24 hours after manager Lennon had been certain the winger would be available to play.

On both occasions - last Wednesday's third qualifying round first leg in Portugal and today's Emirates Cup clash with Arsenal - the 24-year-old had been declared injured.

Lennon insisted he had no reason to doubt McGeady, who is the subject of transfer speculation, with Spartak Moscow having bid a reported £9.5million for his services.

However, the Republic of Ireland international's lack of game time during pre-season - the sum total of which was yesterday's 58-minute cameo against Lyon - means he will not start the Champions League second leg in three days' time.

After admitting it was even possible McGeady would not play for the club again, Lennon said: "He complained of a calf injury this morning, so we left him out.

"I don't know what's going to happen this week - we'll have to wait and see.

"As regards Wednesday, I don't think I could possibly start him.

"At best, he'd probably be a substitute."

McGeady was omitted from the squad for the first leg with a back problem.

Anticipating conspiracy theories about his absence today, Lennon said: "Look, Aiden is not one of these guys to make things up - I'm being genuine with that.

"He's in a difficult situation at the minute.

"I've been there myself. Towards the end of my time at Leicester, there was some interest from Celtic.

"Your head's all over the place and I think he's just in that place at the minute.

"He doesn't fake injuries; he wants to play football; he's always wanted to play football.

"So I have to take his word for this one."

Today's game was attended by Finland boss Stuart Baxter, who Celtic had long been pursuing as a mentor for managerial rookie Lennon.

Confirming Baxter's input on an advisory basis only, Lennon said: "He was here, yeah, and he'd been at the hotel earlier on.

"He's just here to watch the game, really, and have a chat.

"He will be an advisor to me when I need him, if and when I do need him."

Revealing he hoped Baxter would help solve the riddle of Celtic's dreadful away record, Lennon added: "He's obviously got a job at the Finnish FA anyway and he'd be a phonecall away, just to bounce a few ideas off.

"The one thing I do lack is experience, and he's had a very lengthy career, not just in Scandinavia but elsewhere."