Celtic coach O'Neill feeling better after hospital stay

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill said on Thursday that he is feeling “much better” after missing last weekend’s game against Kilmarnock due to a hospital visit.

O’Neill had to be away from the Celtic team for a few days because of a “small” procedure.

The 74-year-old spent a night in the hospital and could not join the team for their 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday. But he did give a pre-match talk to the players at their hotel.

When asked how he was doing, the former Republic of Ireland coach told Celtic’s website, “Much better than last week anyway. Yeah, a couple of ailments rolled into one, unfortunately, but I’m getting there, which is good news.”

O’Neill helped Celtic win the Scottish title and the Scottish Cup last season in his second term as interim coach during a tough period for the club in Glasgow.

Celtic is looking for their 15th title in 16 seasons. However, some fans have criticized the club for not spending enough on new players.

But O’Neill has welcomed a third new signing since last season. On Wednesday, Egypt winger Haissem Hassan joined from the Spanish club Real Oviedo.

“We’d been tracking him in January time. We have been chasing him, several players, in that sort of position that we feel as if they will add something to us. And he very, very much fitted the bill,” O’Neill said.

“When he gets to see the surrounds here, I just think he’ll glow. Going past players now is a sort of a dying art, which is really almost unforgivable in football. That’s what fans get excited about.”