O'Neill gearing up for UEFA hearing

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has called on UEFA to give him a fair hearing when he makes a personal appeal against a two-match touchline ban in Switzerland next week.

European football’s governing body punished him after being sent to the stand by French referee Claude Colombo against Celta Vigo, but he was reinstated to the dug-out for the second leg of the tie in Spain.

O’Neill would miss both legs of the UEFA Cup tie against Stuttgart if his appeal fails but he is in confident mood and said: “I’m going to give them a good case.

“There was a fellow in the stand who put in some sort of report and I gasped when I saw that.

“I realised I was speaking to someone who was obviously in an official capacity, but I didn’t recognise the conversation we were supposed to have had or the tone of it.

“There’s one or two people prepared to come and say a few words. I’ve asked for representatives.

“If my particular statement is backed up by some people who say this is what happened then, then I think I might be entitled to that.

“I really won’t know until Wednesday because we will be sending some things through. I want to give my side of the story, that’s all I can ask for.”

O’Neill will concentrate on that case having failed to sign anybody before the transfer window closed.

The Celtic boss unsuccessfully attempted to make a loan signing – but he believes that top clubs will now learn from their mistakes and bring in players during the summer.

“I think having had the experience, people will seriously start looking at players and monitoring a bit earlier and making sure whatever business – or the vast bulk of it – will be done in the summertime,” added O’Neill.

“If they continue with this sort of system, then I think this will be precisely right. The very big clubs will want their best players for European football and they wouldn’t want to be going into January and looking for a non cup-tied Rivaldo.”

O’Neill, meanwhile, has spoken of his sympathy for midfielder Colin Healy - but he has told him to stay patient.

The Republic of Ireland star failed to win a move before the deadline closed and now he has to face life on the sidelines at Parkhead.

But O’Neill said: “His first concern is getting into the side and playing for Celtic. Obviously there is a frustration there because it’s not happening and you might have to go and bide your time, but a lot could change in those five months.

“What he’s been crying out for is this run of consecutive games in the side. Jamie Smith, Shaun Maloney and even David Fernandez have been crying out for a long run.

“It’s been difficult and it doesn’t help their own frustration wanting to be part of it.

“Colin is a regular in the Republic squad now and he wants to make sure he’s part of that, and the best way to do that is by playing regular first-team football.

“I think I might have done that before and had 30 Northern Ireland caps before I played three games for Nottingham Forest.”

Celtic are expected to beat Partick tomorrow after the Jags resumed following the winter break with two defeats.

Thistle boss John Lambie said: “The lay-off has not worked for us but I’m not moaning about it. Not playing games has been a problem but we have no-one to blame but ourselves for that.”