Martin O'Neill Misses Final Training Session Before Kilmarnock Match

Martin O'Neill missed Celtic’s final training session before Sunday’s Premiership trip to Kilmarnock as he continues his recovery from a hospital procedure this week.

The club confirmed on Wednesday that the 74-year-old had undergone what was described as a “small procedure”, with an expectation he would be discharged within 48 hours. He is now recuperating away from Lennoxtown, leaving his backroom team to steer preparations for Rugby Park.

Shaun Maloney has taken the lead with the first team, working closely with coaches Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus as Celtic fine-tuned their plans. Maloney is also set to handle media duties, stepping in for O’Neill at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference.

Whether O’Neill will be well enough to return to the technical area on Sunday remains unresolved. His involvement against Kilmarnock will be a late call, with no firm indication yet from the club on his availability.

Jota Steps Up Comeback Bid

There was at least one major positive on the training pitch on Friday.

Jota, sidelined for more than a year with a serious knee injury, joined the main group as he moved into the final phase of his rehabilitation. The Portuguese winger has been out of competitive action since tearing a cruciate ligament at Tannadice in April 2025, an injury that brought a long, frustrating spell of setbacks and ultimately ruled him out of the run-in last season.

Seeing him back among his team-mates offered a timely lift at Lennoxtown. His full return is not yet complete, but the sight of Jota back in the thick of first-team work hints at a significant attacking option edging closer for Celtic.

As O’Neill battles to regain full fitness and Jota pushes towards a long-awaited comeback, Celtic head to Rugby Park juggling short-term uncertainty with the promise of key figures re-emerging at just the right stage of the campaign.