Martin O'Neill sends warning on 'serious trouble' Celtic could find themselves in amid title race with Hearts
Celtic returned to form in the title race with Hearts in downing Dundee United.
Martin O’Neill has said his Celtic side are well up for a Premiership title tussle with Hearts - but a lack of January activity could derail their endeavours.
After Wilfried Nancy’s calamitous tenure had the Hoops drop six points behind Derek McInnes’ team amid continued Jambos form, the current champions returned to former boss Martin O’Neill to the end of the season. His first game back at the helm was a convincing 4-0 win over Dundee United as they now prepare for a midweek clash against Falkirk.
Transfer work has been criticised at Parkhead and they have made one January signing so far, right-back Julian Araujo, on loan from Bournemouth. O’Neill has warned that a lack of activity to bolster his team could leave them vulnerable with key stars like Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston already long-term absentees.
Martin O’Neill on Celtic transfer business
O’Neill said: “I am hopeful we are going to get some people in. But just when you think that something might happen, things change around. We obviously need to do it, even just to give help to the boys. Because this week was the only free week we have had since I’ve come to the football club.
"And from here on to I don’t know how long, we’re going midweek each time. So there’ll be no respite. If we pick up injuries to really key players here, we could be in serious trouble. We need some people in. And we are honestly working on it. It doesn’t seem as if you believe me, but we’re actually working on it."
On the game, O’Neill added: "It was delightful, we played really well in the game and in the end we won quite convincingly. You still have to score the first goal in the game, Yang takes it magnificently and we get up and running but the performance was really good.
Celtic and Hearts title race verdict
"It's not a deflection, the players have to do the playing and it's been a strange old week again. I've come back in again perhaps to haunt them as much as anything else but the players did brilliantly, absolutely brilliantly. It's a boost of confidence as much as anything else.
"Some of the players are just back to a bit of form that I know they can produce and that was the lovely thing about the performance. Overall I thought we were excellent. If we're going to try and do anything, I've been at this football club before a long time ago and the crowd were magnificent. Even moments when we were poor they kept with us.”
He added in his post-match interview with Sky on how the title race is likely to pan out: “We have to be up for the title fight. We really have to be. Sometimes you can read into things that don’t actually exist but we have to be up for it. These lads are defending a title that they won last year and they find themselves in a dog fight. That is what it’s going to be from here until the end of the season.”