DESPITE a famous surname, Neil Lennon is not a player that would spring readily to many minds when discussing the merits of the Premiership's top midfield marauders, writes PETER WHITE.

Yet the ginger-topped 26-year-old Northern Ireland stalwart has proved himself fit to stand in any company - a little like his under-rated Leicester City side.

And sparks could fly if Lennon and Billy McKinlay cross swords when Blackburn Rovers take on Leicester at Ewood tomorrow.

In fact, Lennon and McKinlay has a certain ring to it - a ring of steel!

But, like the man who plays a similar role for Rovers, there is much more to one of Filbert Street's favourite sons than meets the eye.

There are any number of under-achievers in the Premiership, both teams and individuals, but Leicester and Lennon do not rank in either category.

If anything, they are underestimated.

While manager Martin O'Neill has probably used that as a useful weapon against unsuspecting opponents in the past, Lennon believes it is high time the club got the recognition it deserves.

Others might say a similar sort of thing applies to the midfield star who has been the epitome of City's rise and rise over the past couple of years.

Despite their success, winning the Coca-Cola Cup last year and establishing themselves as contenders for Europe through the Premiership, Lennon feels they are still denied much credit.

"We've had a fantastic 18 months with some tremendous success and yet we are still labelled by a lot of people as a workmanlike team who work hard and try to make the most of corners and free kicks," he said.

"It's a complete myth and, in fact, we don't work on corners at all.

"What we are is a hard-working team of good players who, all of a sudden, are starting to get international recognition."

Lennon, in tandem with Leicester, has emerged from football's shadowlands to prove himself a very prominent new force in the Premiership.

But, whereas the club came good through the lottery of the play-offs, his was a more classic escape route.

Discarded by Manchester City after just one League appearance, Lennon's career was salvaged by the game's equivalent of the RAC - The Royal Academy of Crewe.

Half a dozen seasons in the Gresty Road garage, having his game fine-tuned and brought to full power, Lennon was snapped up by Leicester for a relatively modest fee of £750,000 a couple of years back. They have had no cause to regret the investment as the Irishman typifies the power and personality which has driven City towards the top, rather than the expected position scrambling to avoid relegation.

Most of the leading teams have fallen to Leicester this season. So it is no surprise when Lennon claims their achievements should be acknowledged and there is an obvious trace of resentment underlying his comments.

"We are a good footballing side as we have proved in the last few weeks alone against Liverpool, Manchester United, Leeds United and Chelsea who, on Saturday, we should have beaten by four or five goals," he said.

"Surely, sooner or later, someone is going to sit up and take notice, put any pre-conceived ideas to one side and realise that we are not just a bunch of journeymen.

"We have done the business against sides in the top six all season, are on a good run at present and gunning to get back into Europe again.

"And yet when we play one of the top sides, as was the case with Chelsea last Saturday, we are looked upon as an afterthought."

Our Carling Opta statistics illustrate just how well Lennon has done this season.

Rovers fans would rate McKinlay's contribution to the Ewood cause very highly indeed.

Yet Lennon's figures are even better. He was in the top three Carling Opta midfielders last season and has maintained a high ranking throughout the present campaign.

How these two fare in opposition could well have a crucial bearing on the outcome of tomorrow's match.

With the exception of USA keeper Kasey Keller, defender Matt Elliott, who could find himself alongside Colin Hendry for Scotland this summer, and the still-emerging Emile Heskey there aren't too many names in the Leicester squad which grab your attention.

But Rovers know them well from previous battles and Lennon can be sure that, while the national spotlight might have missed them, they will command a healthy respect at Ewood.

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