O'Neill admits Miller could leave Celts

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill cannot rule out the possibility of losing Liam Miller until he signs a new contract.

The young Irishman’s current deal runs out in the summer but he has always insisted he wants to stay at Parkhead.

That has not stopped speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United hitting the sports pages again today.

O’Neill is happy with the way talks have gone with his agent but he acknowledges there is always a risk the player in question will leave until he finally puts pen to paper on a new contract.

The Celtic manager said: “I am still in negotiations with Liam and his agent and until those things are absolutely signed there is still the possibility anything can happen.

“Whether Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus or anybody it doesn’t matter – you always run that risk – and I will be the first to say that because I have been in the game a long time.

“I have seen these things done and dusted and hopefully Liam Miller wants to play at the football club.

“You tend to speak more to the agents and that’s not to say that you don’t speak to the players.

“But players get their agents to sort out their financial business and hopefully he will sign soon – which would be absolutely fantastic.

“These things take time and you don’t expect any situation to be sorted out in a day or two. They have their own particular problems, aims and ambitions so that’s why these things take time.

“I hope things don’t drag on too long and I hope they are sorted out sooner rather than later for the football club and supporters.”

That is not his only concern as his side look to recover from the shock CIS Insurance Cup defeat to Hibernian when they make the sort trip to Fir Park to take on Terry Butcher’s Motherwell on Sunday.

They are eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League but O’Neill has injury concerns over forward trio Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson.

Larsson suffered a back injury in the CIS Insurance Cup defeat to Hibernian last night and will be given until the last possible moment to prove his fitness.

X-rays have shown that the versatile Sutton has a bruised rather than broken hand and he will be looking to play along with Hartson, whose recently troublesome calf strain is improving.

O’Neill revealed: “It’s a bruised back of the hand for Chris.

“He’s going to be all right which is good news.

“X-rays have revealed that it is not broken – which is very pleasing.

“There are a few knocks and bruises and we have a bit of bruised pride so we will see how things are there.

“Big John is improving and he should be okay for Sunday. Henrik is suffering and we will wait until the last possible moment for him.”

Goalkeeper Magnus Hedman has been struggling with a sore knee in the past couple of days but he is also making progress.

Didier Agathe (hamstring) and Jackie McNamara (elbow) remain on the sidelines.