O’Neill to play rested Celtic stars in Stuttgart

MARTIN O’NEILL will bring back his rested stars for Thursday’s UEFA Cup return leg in Stuttgart – but he has promised those bowing out more opportunities before May.

The Celtic manager made 10 changes to the side which beat the German side 3-1 at Parkhead last week, but those who came in did a good enough job to beat St Johnstone and book their place in the fifth round of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup.

Only Paul Lambert survived the two games, but he looks set to be joined again in the starting 11 this week by Robert Douglas, Bobo Balde, Joos Valgaeren, Neil Lennon, Stilian Petrov, Alan Thompson, Didier Agathe, Chris Sutton and Shaun Maloney. With Celtic still aiming for trophies on four fronts, the Irishman has told them that all his squad will be needed before the end of the season: “I was concerned because I wanted to get through the game. The most important thing was that we are still involved in all the competitions. We have not been knocked out, so the changes worked and it’s important to use the full squad as best as we can.

“The players that have not been playing regular take time to get to the pace of the game, but I wanted to give those players a start after the excursions in midweek. I know there was a lot of changes, but we won the game and even though there will be changes again on Thursday the players will all play their part again.”

Youngster Jamie Smith is one who could feel hard done to if he is left out in midweek after producing another man-of-the-match display in yesterday’s 3-0 success.

He found himself dropped from the side for the first leg against Stuttgart after doing well in five consecutive first-team starts, but the attacking midfielder’s display has given the manager a dilemma ahead of the return leg in Germany: “He is doing very well at the moment. He is having a great full season and has got himself into the starting line-up. He knows how difficult it is to stay in the side, but he is doing very well and the good thing is that he can play out on the right, left and in the middle.”

St Johnstone manager Billy Stark was also impressed by Smith and, after his coaching at Parkhead years ago, he claims that he knew he would make it at the top.

“I have always admired Jamie,” said the McDiarmid Park boss. “He has great ability, low gravity and he is a smashing boy. He did well yesterday and he is more than capable of playing at that level regularly and he showed everyone what he can do.”