“I went to see him last night. It was really positive. He got out of hospital yesterday,” Shaun Maloney | OneFootball

Shaun Maloney has confirmed that Martin O’Neill got out of hospital yesterday and was in good spirits last night when his assistant at Celtic visited…

No decision has been reached on whether the veteran Celtic manager will be in the dugout at Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon for the game against Kilmarnock but if he’s not then Maloney is ready to take the team.

“I went to see him last night. It was really positive. He got out of the hospital yesterday,” Shaun Maloney told the mainstream media this afternoon at the pre-match media conference at Lennoxtown, as the ban on Celtic fan media continues.

“He was in good form last night. Loads better than he was Monday, Tuesday. Hopefully that sort of positive feeling continues, but he was in good form,” the Celtic Assistant manager added but he was unsure when MON would be returning to work.

“No timeline. So even for the game at the weekend, it’s day-to-day,” Maloney revealed. “We saw him last night with regard to the preparation for the game. He wasn’t in today. I’ll speak to him again this afternoon, and he’ll make a call for the game tomorrow.”

If Martin decides to sit this one out Maloney is ready to step in an lead the team at what is always a difficult venue for Celtic. It took two last minute of stoppage time winners last season to leave Rugby Park with the points last season and this time around will be no different.

Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic looks on during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on May 16, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Whether Martin O’Neill makes the game or not, his assistant is in no doubt about the tremendously positive impact that the 74 year-old Irishman has had at the club since first stepping in to replace Brendan Rodgers last autumn.

“It’s strange. We’ll definitely miss him if he’s not there, but you also have to respect what’s happened in the last few days,” Maloney said. “The impact he’s had since October has been nothing short of incredible. So we will miss him. We’ll make him do the call.”

Had Martin been at that Lennoxtown today he’d have been bombarded by transfer questions but Shaun Maloney was successfully able to bat them all away saying it’s not something that he’s involved in.

That goes back the the summer when the club apparently tried to pull a fast one on him but attempting to get him to work on coaching the first team and handling the transfer business while taking a reduction in wages.

Understandably the hacks wanted to know what the latest is with the Haissem Hassan transfer, with the Egypt World Cup star expected to be confirmed as a Celtic player shortly. Maloney was able to confirm that he doesn’t expect the Real Oviedo star to be signing over the weekend.

“Not too sure. The processes around the club has genuinely been Martin and Michael Nicholson. I don’t see anything changing in the squad this weekend,” he said. “Apart from Jota being unavailable, everyone else is fit. For transfers, I don’t see any ins or outs. Martin is still over it.”

23rd May 2026; Hampden Park, Scottish Cup Final l Celtic versus Dunfermline; Martin O’Neill is led off the pitch by PR assistant Sharon Lyons. 23rd May 2026.  Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Watch Shaun Maloney’s Mainstream Media Conference below ahead of Celtic’s trip to Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon…

HAVE YOUR SAY – Join the Celtic conversation in our comments section below…

Celtic Shorts is the new home for the team from The Celtic Star

Summer Sale now on! Both books for just £20 plus P&P. Order now at Celticstarbooks.com

Quick Tip – Add Celticshorts.com as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the Celtic content you value the most. It takes just a few seconds and you’ll notice the difference straight away! – Click HERE….Hail Hail!

Click to join Celtic Pools