Martin O’Neill has given an update on Arne Engels and is also looking ahead to Thursday night’s Europa League knockout playoff tie against VfB Stuttgart…
Arne Engels of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
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Julian Araujo struck in the 97th minute to seal a vital three points over Kilmarnock at the weekend, triggering jubilant celebrations among the visiting support at Rugby Park.
It followed another dramatic week for O’Neill’s side, who required a stoppage-time equaliser to remain in the Scottish Cup against Dundee last weekend, before also grabbing a late victory in their Premiership clash with Livingston in midweek.
O’Neill is demanding a higher standard from his side ahead of a punishing run of fixtures, with Stuttgart visiting Glasgow in the Europa League on Thursday before key domestic tests against Hibs and Aberdeen, followed by a double encounter at Ibrox.
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Celtic will also be without Arne Engels, who is expected to be sidelined until the end of March due to a thigh injury. O’Neill acknowledged that he may be forced to prioritise matters at home, even if that means shifting the club’s European ambitions down the list for now.
Arne Engels of Celtic has a shot on goal. Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership, 11 Feb rural 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock
Speaking at his post match media conference at Rugby Park, the Hoops boss said: “Arne will be out The international window, unless he does really, really well in recovery. I can’t see us having him before that, which would be end of March. It’s a big loss for us absolutely. That’s why getting Alex in has been so crucial for us. He was class.”
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Yang Hyun-Jun of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
O’Neill stressed he has no desire to abandon their European campaign, but conceded: “Obviously it’s against my nature. After we had beaten Feyenoord, I thought that was the end for me, in terms of games of European matches.”
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Celtic supporters at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Bologna 2 Celtic 2. Thursday 22 January 2025. Photo Conor Spence (The Celtic Star)
“But then getting a result in Bologna, I just didn’t want it to go to waste for the effort that the team had put in. So and we followed up by beating Utrecht, that gets you in.”
O’Neill added: “But if you want to be really honest about it, there’s some big, big teams still in that competition and it’s a long way from home as well.”
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“If you went through against Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, you’re still talking about into the last 16. That seems like miles away. If it was a bit closer, you know, then you could think about it. But just having said this, wouldn’t want to give it up.”
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
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