O'Neill discharged from hospital but there is 'no timeline' for Celtic return

Martin O'Neill was discharged from hospital on Thursday after undergoing a "small procedure", and assistant manager Shaun Maloney said there is "no timeline" for his return, adding that O'Neill will decide whether he will be in the dugout for Sunday's trip to Kilmarnock.

O'Neill received a one-year contract at the start of the season after leading Celtic to a Scottish league and cup Double following two caretaker spells last term, and he was in the dugout as Celtic began the new Scottish Premiership campaign with a 1-0 win over Dundee on Monday. Maloney, who previously managed Hibernian and Wigan, confirmed he had visited O'Neill and that Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann has wished the Celtic boss a "speedy recovery".

"I went to see him last night," Maloney revealed. "It was really positive. He was in good form - loads better than he was Monday, Tuesday. Hopefully that sort of positive feeling he has continues."

Maloney described the situation as being assessed day-to-day around preparations for the upcoming match. "Even for the game at the weekend, it's sort of day-to-day. We saw him last night with regards to the preparation for the game and then he wasn't in today. "I'll speak to him this afternoon and then he'll make a call for tomorrow. And then I'd imagine he'll make the call for the game at the weekend. "But, if it's this weekend, great. If it isn't, then we'll prepare for it with that one."

He acknowledged it would feel "strange" if he had to take charge at Rugby Park and stressed the squad would cope if O'Neill was absent. "We'll definitely miss him if he's not there but you also have to respect what's happened the last few days," he said. "The impact that he's had over, what was it, since October, it's been nothing short of incredible really - the things that he does with the players and the staff. "So we will miss him, but we'll be prepared. We've got some brilliant senior players, but we'll see. We'll let him make the call."

Maloney said he did not expect any new signings to arrive before Sunday's game, citing the reported bid for Oviedo's Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan as an example and saying transfer discussions remained between O'Neill and chief executive Michael Nicholson. He also acknowledged interest in midfielder Arne Engels and right-back Alistair Johnston but added he had "no reason to believe they would not be in the squad to face Kilmarnock."

Maloney will speak to O'Neill again this afternoon and said the manager will make the decision on whether to be present at Rugby Park on Sunday; if O'Neill is unavailable, Maloney could be the match-day lead for Celtic against Kilmarnock.