Celtic could seal “major coup” by replacing O’Neill with tempted Scottish manager
Celtic need to carry their weekend firepower into Europe when Celta Vigo visit Parkhead.
Martin O’Neill’s side head into the Europa League clash with renewed confidence after hammering Hearts 7-1, but their continental campaign badly needs a lift.
Defeats against Ferencvaros and Benfica have left the Hoops without a point from their opening two league phase games.
The 3-1 home loss to the Hungarian side was followed by a 4-1 defeat in Lisbon, leaving Celtic with little room for another disappointing result.
Sunday’s performance offered a reminder of their attacking threat, though repeating that sharpness against La Liga opposition is the next big challenge.
|
Celtic injury list |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Latest update |
Potential return |
|
Cameron Carter-Vickers |
Hamstring strain |
Back in training, but ruled out against Celta Vigo. |
Could return to the squad against Hibs on 25 October, depending on his progress in training. |
|
Alistair Johnston |
Hamstring injury |
Training again after his absence since August, but unavailable tonight. |
Also targeting 25 October against Hibernian, subject to fitness. |
|
Yang Hyun-jun |
Hamstring injury |
Has resumed work on the grass, but remains unavailable against Celta Vigo. |
No confirmed date. O’Neill estimated another one to two weeks after the Hearts game, suggesting late October or early November. |
|
Joël van den Berg |
Ankle injury |
Continuing his recovery from a training injury. His protective boot has been removed, but he remains unavailable. |
No confirmed return date. |
Shaun Maloney confirmed before the game that Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston would miss out despite returning to training, while Auston Trusty is unavailable because of a private matter.
Oliver Sorensen is available again, providing a welcome midfield option as Celtic look to build on their domestic response.
O’Neill knows this opposition well, having guided Celtic past Celta on away goals during the run to the 2003 UEFA Cup final, but he needs his side to show they can stay organised alongside the attacking confidence on full display against Hearts.
The challenge is to give supporters another memorable night against Celta, with points urgently needed to get their qualification hopes moving.
Away from Thursday’s game, however, speculation over Celtic’s longer-term managerial plans continues, amid their repeated links to Everton boss David Moyes.
Mick Brown believes David Moyes could be tempted by a return to his former club if his Everton contract situation remains unresolved.
Speaking to Football Insider, the former West Ham scout, who worked alongside Moyes, pointed to the appeal of managing Celtic and returning closer to family in Scotland.
“There’s still a lot that has to happen before we can talk about David Moyes leaving Everton,” Brown said.
“But if they can’t reach an agreement about a new contract, then he will have to consider his options, and I think the Celtic job could be very appealing for him.
“He would jump at the chance to go back to Scotland, with the club he used to represent as a player, so it would make a lot of sense for all parties.
“From a Celtic point of view, it would be a major coup to land a manager like Moyes, and that’s why I do have doubts about whether he will end up leaving Everton.
“But he’s obviously got family up in Scotland, so that’s always a possibility that he could be tempted to move back there, and as I said, the Celtic job will surely appeal to him.”
Celtic are said to be considering Moyes as a possible successor to O’Neill, although his next move will depend on developments at Everton.
Moyes’ connection with Celtic dates back to the beginning of his senior playing career, giving any approach an obvious personal angle.
His managerial experience would be another attraction.
The Scotsman’s West Ham side won the Europa Conference League in 2023, beating Fiorentina in the final and showing he could handle the demands of European football.
That record would certainly be relevant for Celtic, whose ambitions extend beyond Premiership success.
For now, though, O’Neill has a pressing job of his own.
Three points against Celta would ease their immediate European pressure and offer a stronger platform for O’Neill to spearhead a memorable campaign.
