Martin O'Neill Recovering Well Ahead of Kilmarnock Trip

Martin O'Neill is out of hospital and recovering well, with Celtic assistant Shaun Maloney insisting the 74-year-old is “in good form” ahead of Sunday’s William Hill Premiership visit to Kilmarnock.

The Celtic manager underwent what the club described as a “small procedure” earlier in the week, prompting understandable concern among supporters. Those fears eased when Maloney emerged from a visit on Thursday with a far brighter update.

“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 relief around Lennoxtown is clear. The only uncertainty now lies in the dugout. O'Neill’s presence at Rugby Park remains in the balance, with the club taking a cautious, day-to-day approach.

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

“We saw him last night, with regards to the preparation for the game and so he wasn't in today. 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.”

Celtic had earlier moved to address speculation with a brief statement on their official website, confirming O'Neill’s hospital stay and asking for space as he recovers.

“In response to speculation, we can confirm that Martin O'Neill has undergone a small procedure in hospital,” the club said. “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, the football continues. Maloney will lead preparations for a tricky away fixture on the artificial surface at Rugby Park, guided by O'Neill’s input from a distance if required. Whether the Celtic manager walks out of the tunnel on Sunday or watches from home, his recovery is clearly moving in the right direction — and that, for the club and its support, is the result that matters most this week.