O’Neill: signings nothing to do with me

Chris Roberts

The in-form English duo, who both joined the Glasgow club in 2000, delivered a huge lift on the eve of their UEFA Cup quarter-final clash with Spanish side Villarreal.

O’Neill denies he has given either player assurances over his long-term plans and claims they have signed new deals without knowing whether their boss will remain at the club.

“I just think the players themselves, at this moment in time, enjoy their football and that’s really important,” said O’Neill.

“It’s really important to anybody’s career that they enjoy it and they are getting the chance of top European football. When you are winning things you want to try and continue that for as long as possible. That’s the reason. It’s nothing to do with the manager. I have a gameplan and I’m delighted the board have approved it.”

The way O’Neill spoke about the future did not suggest that he had a move to England lined up. The Northern Irishman has a one-year rolling contract but that has not stopped him, and the two players, being linked with moves to the Barclaycard Premiership.

But O’Neill said: “I am delighted that, with the support of the board, we have been able to retain players of the quality of Chris Sutton and Alan Thompson. Since we brought them to Celtic, both players have given their all for the club and I know that the supporters have recognised the magnificent contributions which they have made to the team.”

O’Neill also expects to announce more players committing themselves to new deals in the near future.

The likes of Neil Lennon, Bobo Balde, Jackie McNamara, and injured duo John Kennedy and Shaun Maloney are in the frame for new contracts.

“We want to secure Shaun and John for a fair length of time and we will try to do that in the next weeks,” he added.

“We have got those players signed up now and there are one or two other senior players in the pipeline.”

Chief executive Peter Lawwell believes the contract extensions send a message of intent to everyone in the game that the Hoops are keen to maintain their high profile at home and abroad.

For tonight’s big clash, O’Neill recalls Neil Lennon to his starting line-up. The midfielder missed the dramatic weekend draw with Hearts because of a persistent leg injury.

Captain Stilian Petrov is also expected to start after being rested against the Edinburgh side while Bobo Balde will also play after being banned in Barcelona for the last round.

Chris Sutton (groin), Alan Thompson (hamstring) and Joos Valgaeren (hamstring) have also declared themselves fit after recent problems while Liam Miller is pushing for a place.

Provisional squad: Marshall, Lennon, McNamara, Balde, McManus, Valgaeren, Miller, Varga, Agathe, Pearson, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Sutton, Sylla, McGovern, Lambert, Mjallby, Beattie, Smith, Douglas.