Martin O’Neill has warned that Celtic risk finding themselves in a precarious position if reinforcements are not secured during the January window and further injury problems emerge…
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill reacts during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 10, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
O’Neill – back in charge for a second temporary spell this campaign – has repeatedly stressed the need for additions to bolster the squad.
Although right-back Julian Araujo made his first start in yesterday’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Dundee United after arriving prior to O’Neill’s return, the 73 year-old believes recruitment must continue in multiple areas. He acknowledged that the current group lacks depth and could quickly become stretched should injuries mount.
Martin O Neill with Julian Araujo. Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, 10 January 2026. Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
When questioned again on whether he expects new arrivals to be completed imminently, O’Neill responded via Sky Sports: “Yeah, I am hopeful that we are going to get some people in. But just when you think that something might happen, things change around.”
“Listen, it’s not me filibustering. It’s just me feeling that until they’re over the line, I can’t come up and say that it’s happened.”
🗣️ “The whole team were terrific today”
🗣️ “We have to be up for it [title fight] 🗣️ “We need bolstering and the people to come in and help the players”Martin O’Neill has his say on Celtic’s win over Dundee United ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FJ0ZCCYJ77
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 10, 2026
O’Neill added: “We obviously need to do it, even just to give help to the boys at present at the minute. Because this week, the week that’s just gone in, was the only week that we have had, since I’ve come to the football club, we have had a free week.”
“And from here on in, we go right through now to I don’t know how long, because we’re going midweek each time. So there’ll be no respite. If we pick up injuries to really key players here, we could be in serious trouble.”
Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates with team mates after scoring past Dundee United goalkeeper David Richards to give Celtic a 4-0 lead. Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 10 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock
O’Neill maintained that yesterday afternoon’s win has done little to alter the club’s recruitment priorities, reiterating that fresh additions remain essential, as he said: “Oh, it’s not changed to me. Not at all. We need some people in.”
“And we are, honestly, we are working on it. It doesn’t seem as if you believe me, but we’re actually working on it.”
Conor Spence
READ Jim Goodwin’s thoughts on Celtic under Martin O’Neill on the next page…
“The atmosphere in here was a lot better than what it was a week prior,” Jim Goodwin
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin and Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill at full time during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 10, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has given his verdict following his side’s 4-0 defeat to Celtic yesterday afternoon as Celtic ultras tell Michael Nicholson to own his failures and resign…
Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates with team mates after scoring past Dundee United goalkeeper David Richards to give Celtic a 4-0 lead. Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 10 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock
Strikes from Yang, Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda capped a convincing afternoon for Martin O’Neill as he marked a memorable return to the Celtic Park touchline.
The result lifted Celtic back ahead of theRangers and to within three points of table-toppers Hearts, who are both in action today, while also drawing a line under the disastrous 33-day spell under the hapless Wilfried Nancy, who was Michael Nicholson’s first choice pick to replace elite level manager Brendan Rodgers.
Those Celtic supporters who didn’t reckon Rodgers was an elite level manager got a 33-day lesson in what a coach NOT at that level really looks like. Yesterday the Celtic ultras, a mixture of Bhoys Celtic and Green Brigade had this message shown below for the Celtic CEO relating to his appointment of Wilfried Nancy.
Images of Celtic Park on Saturday 10 January 2026. Celtic 4 Dundee Utd 0. Photo The Celtic Star
For Dundee United, it’s back-to-back defeats and remain seventh in the Premiership on 25 points after 22 matches played.
Tangerines boss Goodwin gave his thoughts after a disappointing day at Celtic Park: “We always knew today’s fixture was going to be difficult,” he said via The Herald.
“We know the quality Celtic have got but obviously the change in management has given the players and home supporters a real lift because the atmosphere in here was a lot better than what it was a week prior.”
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin and Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill at full time during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 10, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Goodwin added: “They’re playing a formation and a system that the players are familiar with, and one that suits the squad they’ve got. When you come here you know you’re going to be starved of possession at times and you have to really show a bit of resilience in and around your penalty area and I think today there’s lots of areas within the goals we’ve conceded we could’ve done a lot better. When you give Celtic a two goal advantage it becomes a mountain to climb.”
“When you come here you have to do the basics well defensively, at times you need your goalkeeper to make saves and when you get half chances you’ve got to be clinical and take them, we couldn’t do that today.”
🟢 Celtic produced a dominant performance to beat Dundee Utd 4-0, as Martin O’Neill returned to the dugout again ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8pIY1SQ3lN
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 10, 2026
Reflecting Julian Araujo’s tackle on Will Ferry in the first half which resulted in a yellow card for the Mexican, Goodwin commented: “I thought the Celtic defender was a little bit out of control.”
“Will Ferry took a real sore one, VAR seemed to skim over it pretty quickly so if they’re satisfied with it then it’s fine.”
🗣️ “Coming to Celtic Park at the best of times is never easy”
🗣️ “The goals, all four of them, are very avoidable”
🗣️ “We have to move on now”Jim Goodwin reflects on Dundee United’s loss away to Celtic ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/xRYadhy7R5
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 10, 2026
Conor Spence
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