Shaun Maloney's update on Martin O'Neill is the main story here. The Celtic boss is out of hospital and recovering well after a small procedure earlier this week, but Sunday's trip to Kilmarnock comes too soon for any certainty about a return to the dugout.
O'Neill's recovery update
Maloney said O'Neill was “in good form” and “loads better than he was Monday, Tuesday”, which is the clearest reason for a more optimistic tone around his recovery. Celtic had already said on Wednesday that he would likely be released from hospital in the next day or two, and Maloney added that there is still “No timeline. So even for the game at the weekend, it's sort of day-to-day.”
That leaves the situation fairly plain. The update is encouraging, but it is not a green light. Maloney also said, “We'll definitely miss him if he's not there but you also have to respect what's happened the last few days.”
Celtic's plan for Rugby Park
Whatever happens with O'Neill over the next day or so, Celtic will be preparing for Kilmarnock vs Celtic with Maloney in charge on Sunday. That is the practical part of the story, and it matters because Celtic arrive on a five-match winning streak. They have also scored 3 goals in each of their last four listed wins in the form sample, so the team’s attacking rhythm has been steady enough without any touchline drama.
Kilmarnock are not exactly arriving as passengers either. They have four wins in their last five league and cup games, which gives the fixture a bit more bite than a routine away day. Maloney summed up the planning neatly: “If it's this weekend, great, if it isn't, we'll prepare for it without him.”
The sensible read is that O'Neill's recovery is moving in the right direction, but Sunday will almost certainly be about the men on the pitch and the man standing in for him on the touchline.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
