Martin O'Neill Recovering Well After Hospital Procedure

Celtic have been handed a lift before the weekend’s trip to Rugby Park, with assistant Shaun Maloney confirming that manager Martin O'Neill is out of hospital and recovering well after a minor procedure.

The 74-year-old Northern Irishman left hospital on Wednesday, easing fears that had grown after the club revealed he had undergone what they described as a “small procedure”.

Maloney visited his manager on Wednesday night and came away encouraged.

“I went to see him last night. He got out of hospital yesterday,” Maloney said. “He was in good form last night, loads better than he was Monday, Tuesday. Hopefully those sort of positive feelings continue.”

The mood around Lennoxtown had been understandably subdued earlier in the week. Concern for O’Neill’s health briefly pushed football into the background. Now the picture is brighter, but not yet fully clear.

There is, crucially, no fixed date for his full return to the touchline.

“No timeline,” Maloney admitted. “So even for the game at the weekend, it's sort of day-to-day.”

O’Neill has still been involved in preparing for Sunday’s William Hill Premiership clash with Kilmarnock, albeit from a distance. Maloney revealed that the manager met with staff on Wednesday night to go over plans for Rugby Park, even though he did not attend training the following day.

“We saw him last night, with regards to the preparation for the game and so he wasn't in today,” Maloney said. “I'll speak to him this afternoon and then he'll make a call for tomorrow and then I'd imagine he'll make the call for the game at the weekend.

“If it's this weekend, great, if it isn't, we'll prepare for it without him.”

The club had earlier moved to calm speculation with a statement on their official website, asking for privacy as O’Neill recuperates.

“In response to speculation, we can confirm that Martin O'Neill has undergone a small procedure in hospital,” the statement read. “We would envisage Martin being released from hospital in the next day or two and on behalf of Martin, we would like to thank supporters for their kind wishes.

“We would ask that the privacy of Martin and his family is respected.”

For now, Celtic will plan on a dual track: one scenario with their manager back in his familiar technical area at Rugby Park, another with Maloney leading from the front while O’Neill directs operations from home. Either way, his influence on Sunday’s game will be felt, whether from the dugout or at a distance.