Celtic Prepare for Kilmarnock Match Without Martin O'Neill

Martin O'Neill remained absent from Lennoxtown on Friday as Celtic put the finishing touches to their preparations for Sunday’s Premiership trip to Kilmarnock, the 74-year-old manager still recovering after a spell in hospital this week.

Celtic confirmed on Wednesday that O’Neill had undergone what the club described as a “small procedure”, with an expectation he would be discharged within 48 hours. He is now back out of hospital but has stayed away from the training ground, with the club prioritising his recovery over any rush to return.

In his place, Shaun Maloney has stepped up to run first-team training, supported by coaches Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus. The former Celtic forward has effectively taken the reins on the grass, guiding the session as the champions sharpened their work for a potentially awkward assignment at Rugby Park.

Maloney is also set to front the club’s media duties. Sky Sports report that he will handle the pre-match press conference this afternoon, answering questions that would normally be directed at O’Neill and offering the clearest indication yet of how the coaching staff are managing the short-term reshuffle.

Whether O’Neill will be back in the technical area on Sunday remains unresolved. His availability for the Kilmarnock match is still to be determined, and Celtic are expected to leave the decision as late as possible, with his health the only real priority.

While the manager’s absence cast a shadow over the session, there was a flash of genuine encouragement on the pitch.

Jota, out for more than a year with a serious knee injury, joined in with the first-team group as he moved into the final stages of his rehabilitation. The Portuguese winger’s presence among his teammates offered a timely lift, his sharp movement and involvement in drills signalling that the long road back is finally nearing its end.

He has been sidelined since tearing his cruciate ligament at Tannadice in April 2025, a devastating setback that triggered a gruelling recovery process. A series of complications and minor setbacks wiped out any chance of a late-season return last term, forcing both player and club to reset expectations and focus on this campaign instead.

Now, with Jota edging closer to full fitness and O’Neill fighting to return to the touchline, Celtic head for Rugby Park balancing concern with quiet optimism. The manager’s presence on Sunday is uncertain; the sense that one of their most exciting attackers is almost ready to rejoin the fight is not.