The Hoops are embroiled in an epic title battle with Hearts and Rangers and have a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday
Martin O’Neill reckons the genuine silverware threats Celtic are encountering this campaign ought to serve as a “wake-up call” for the Parkhead outfit.
The Bhoys have secured 13 of the past 14 William Hill Premiership crowns alongside countless cup triumphs during an extraordinarily prosperous era, yet this term has proved turbulent.
The Northern Irishman is undertaking his second temporary managerial stint this season, having previously led Celtic from 2000 to 2005, and now finds himself caught up in a dramatic championship race.
Celtic trail pacesetters Hearts by five points whilst holding a slender one-point advantage over Rangers ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final clash with the Ibrox side.
“The overall picture is I think that it should be a wake-up call for the football club,” remarked the 74-year-old, who confirmed left-back Kieran Tierney requires assessment following a foot problem picked up during the 2-1 victory over Aberdeen in midweek, whilst experienced shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel, who received a shoulder injection after illness, will also be evaluated.
“You could say that in recent years fans have maybe been spoiled, no real challenges in many aspects.
“Being able to coast home in the last six or seven games of a season, which is great because you’ve done that. But the challenge has not been strong.
“Here it is. Here Hearts have arrived on the spot maybe a few years before they thought they would do.
“Rangers have come strongly and spent some money getting good players in at the football club.
“So it’s been a challenge all season and certainly been the challenge in my couple of spells in here, where you’re winning some matches and you’re still trying to peg teams back.
“But we’re in with a chance anyway, that’s the point.
“I don’t think it (Sunday’s game) would have a serious bearing (on title), but in terms of confidence building, of course, those things always matter.
“But for the league, I’m not sure. It’s down now to what, nine games left.”
O’Neill wants Celtic to replicate the performance they produced in the closing stages of last week’s encounter with Rangers when they visit Ibrox.
The Hoops were completely overwhelmed during the opening 45 minutes of their league meeting and trailed 2-0 at half-time, leaving them with a mountain to climb.
However, the defending champions responded impressively to that setback, with strikes from Tierney and Reo Hatate securing a well-earned 2-2 draw for the away side.
The ex-Leicester, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest manager said: “If we if we play like we did in the first half, we shouldn’t turn up then.
“But the second half gave us great confidence, and the ability to know that we can fight back. I think it was testament to the player’s character as much as anything else.”
On fitness matters, O’Neill said: “The injury Kieran’s had to his foot is clearing up. He’s just generally sore in every aspect, so we’ll see how he is tomorrow.
“Kasper trained today for the first time since the injection, so we will see how he is tomorrow.”
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