Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been released from hospital after undergoing a minor medical procedure this week, assistant manager Shaun Maloney revealed.
The 74-year-old manager is now recuperating at home after leaving hospital on Thursday. Maloney believes O'Neill has an outside chance of being in the dugout for Celtic's match against Kilmarnock in Ayrshire on Sunday as the team continues its Scottish Premiership title defence.
Maloney visited O'Neill at home on Thursday evening after he was discharged and reported that the manager was in good form. He noted that O'Neill was feeling much better than he had on Monday and Tuesday.
Update on Martin O'Neill recovery
No exact timeline has been set for O'Neill's return to work. Maloney explained that the situation is being managed on a day-to-day basis following their meeting on Thursday night to discuss match preparation.
O'Neill was not present at training on Friday. Maloney plans to speak with him on Friday afternoon before O'Neill decides on his involvement for Saturday and Sunday's fixture. If O'Neill is unable to attend, the coaching staff will prepare the squad without him.
Celtic opened their season on Monday night with a 1-0 victory over Dundee. Swedish midfielder Benjamin Nygren scored the decisive goal on flag night as the home side fought for the win.
Transfer progress and recruitment
Following the opening match, O'Neill emphasized that the squad requires further reinforcements. Celtic have already signed Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh this summer, but the club continues to pursue additional transfer targets.
The Scottish champions are currently negotiating a deal for Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan from Spanish side Real Oviedo. Discussions have been ongoing for the past fortnight, with a potential transfer fee that could eventually reach £10m.
Maloney confirmed that no new signings are expected to arrive before the upcoming weekend fixture. He stated that recruitment decisions are led by O'Neill and chief executive Michael Nicholson, with coaching staff offering input on candidate lists provided by the recruitment team before O'Neill makes the final call.
Celtic supporters have expressed frustration over squad rebuilding following the departure of Daizen Maeda and 11 other players. Maloney acknowledged the fans' feelings as fair, noting that while coaches prefer early transfers after conducting over 40 pre-season sessions, the staff must remain realistic and focus on integrating new arrivals into the existing group.
Injury boost for Jota
Celtic received positive news with winger Jota returning to training on the grass. The Portuguese player missed the entire 2024-25 season due to a severe cruciate ligament injury suffered when Celtic secured the league title at Tannadice.
Although O'Neill had previously estimated an October return date, Maloney described Jota's return to pitch work as a significant step forward. Maloney added that while the player remains a matter of weeks away from competitive action, the coaching staff is excited about his progress.
