Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is gearing up for a pivotal Sunday showdown as his side travels to Easter Road to face Hibernian—a match he's calling "a really, really big game" and "a really difficult task." With no fresh injury worries, the Hoops are buoyed by positive news: Alistair Johnston, who made his return from the bench last weekend, has "done a week's work too, so that's encouraging." Meanwhile, O'Neill confirmed to Sky Sports that Cameron Carter-Vickers has "joined in training," though he remains a "distance" from full match fitness.

As the title race heats up, O'Neill is keeping his cards close to his chest. He acknowledges that some Hibs fans might not want rivals Hearts to win the league, but insists "that won't cross over to their team selection or the players." Drawing a parallel, he adds, "I'm quite sure here it would be something similar for some Celtic fans who might not want their closest rivals to win." With Celtic playing first among the top three this weekend, O'Neill notes it's "only an advantage if you win."

The veteran boss admits he'll be "glued" to Monday night's Hearts vs. Rangers clash, though he's coy on allegiances. "If you're asking who I'm cheering on, I have no idea. Depending on how we do, I might." Pressed on whether he'd cheer for third-place Rangers, O'Neill quips, "I might not go that far."

Reflecting on the recent defeat at Dundee United, O'Neill calls it a "big setback, but I didn't think it was fatal," and he's pleased his side has responded with a winning streak. On the title fight, he remains resolute: "We've got a lot of work to do, but we're still there fighting for the chance."

One bright spot has been Daizen Maeda's return to form, which O'Neill describes as "very encouraging for us." He adds a candid note on squad depth: "I don't think we would have the ability to carry two players well below their form in games. You might have been able to do it in August or September, but not now."

When asked about the ongoing away ticket dispute between Celtic and Rangers for the upcoming derby at Parkhead, O'Neill opted for caution, noting that "the decision has not been made yet."