Trusty Missing As O’Neill Locks Celtic Down – No Complacency Allowed With Champions League On The Line

Martin O’Neill isn’t foolish enough to think this is finished.

Celtic are 3-0 up against LASK. We’ve got one foot in the Champions League, the other one is hovering somewhere above it, but it’s not down yet.

And judging by O’Neill’s approach before Celtic head to Austria, nobody inside that dressing room is being allowed to think otherwise.

O’Neill has reportedly told his players to stay off social media before the second leg because the last thing he wants is someone accidentally giving LASK a wee screenshot to stick on their dressing-room wall.

I love that.

It’s old-school Martin O’Neill. Don’t give them anything. Don’t start celebrating. Don’t start talking about who you fancy getting in the Champions League draw.

Get through the bloody tie first.

There’s also potentially a wee spanner in the works.

Auston Trusty was missing from Celtic’s final training session before travelling to Austria. There’s no point me pretending I know why — at the time of writing, we don’t — but when a guy who played the full 90 minutes in the first leg suddenly isn’t training before the second, you obviously take notice.

Particularly when Alistair Johnston is already out.

If Trusty doesn’t make it, Liam Scales looks the obvious option alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers. It’s hardly panic stations, but it does remind everyone that this Celtic defence isn’t exactly overflowing with options right now.

And let’s have it right about LASK.

They weren’t hopeless at Celtic Park.

I know 3-0 looks like Celtic turned up, battered them and went home for their tea. That isn’t quite how the game played out.

LASK caused us problems. They created chances. On another night they could easily have scored.

The massive difference from some of Celtic’s previous European disasters was that we had players capable of taking our chances when they arrived.

Now it’s about being grown-ups in Austria.

If Celtic spend parts of Tuesday night camped in their own half protecting a three-goal lead, then batter in.

Martin O’Neill’s philosophy has never needed a 40-page coaching manual.

Win football matches.

Or, in this particular situation, win the bloody tie.

We’ve waited far too long for Celtic to get themselves back into this position.

Ninety minutes.

Three goals in the bank.

Champions League football sitting there waiting for us.

Don’t get clever.

Finish the job.