Martin O'Neill admits he has 'job on his hands' as Celtic boss determined to save season from collapse

O'Neill acknowledges the challenge of reviving Celtic's form after a poor run, with Johnston sidelined for three weeks and confidence wavering across the squad.

Martin O'Neill has admitted Celtic face a significant task to arrest their slide after a difficult period that has seen them lose five of their last eight games. The manager is battling to keep his side at the top of the domestic table while managing a crisis of confidence among players and supporters alike, compounded by a poor Europa League campaign.

O'Neill will be without Canadian full-back Alistair Johnston for at least three weeks after he suffered fresh hamstring damage in Sunday's comeback match against Hibernian. The manager expects Johnston to return after the international break but confirmed he will not feature before it. Winger Yang Hyun-Jun is expected back in training next week.

Despite the setbacks, O'Neill is backing his man-management skills to restore belief in the dressing room. He emphasized that confidence and belief in his players are crucial to getting them back on track, and that grinding out results is part of managing a big club over a 42-game season. A win over Dundee United at home could open up a seven-point gap over Rangers, depending on Rangers' result against Hearts.