O'Neill Targets Fourth Scottish Title as Celtic Manager
Martin O'Neill is pursuing his fourth Scottish top-flight title as Celtic manager. He acknowledges that further dropped points would make winning the Scottish Premiership "a difficult comeback" but insists it is "not impossible."
The defending champions currently sit third with seven fixtures remaining, trailing Rangers by two points and leaders Hearts by five.
"We have the belief," said interim manager O'Neill ahead of Sunday's match at Dundee.
"Do I have the belief in the team? Absolutely. The team have belief in themselves as well.
"If we started to drop a lot of points there, either two in a draw or a defeat, I think, with the games running out, that would be a difficult comeback - not impossible."
Scottish Premiership Title Race Developments
Celtic have yet to secure a league point in Dundee this season. In October, they suffered a loss at Dens Park for the first time since 1988. Additionally, Dundee United defeated them for a second time at Tannadice in their most recent encounter.
These results contributed to Celtic's tally of eight league defeats this season, doubling last term's total and exceeding the campaign before by five.
By the time Celtic kick off their match at 16:30 BST, Rangers will have hosted Dundee United on Saturday at 15:00, and Hearts will have played their away game against Livingston earlier on Sunday at 14:00.
"Psychologically, there's an advantage to playing early if you go and get your results," O'Neill explained. "If you don't, it opens the way for you.
"I'm hoping that between now and the end of the season, it might work in reverse.
"You just have to try and take care of your own game that you are supposedly in control of."
Injury Updates on Arne Engels and Julian Araujo
O'Neill provided updates on injured players Arne Engels and Julian Araujo.
"It's a thigh," O'Neill said regarding right-back Araujo, who has returned to his parent club Bournemouth for treatment. "He's doing fine in recovery, now. We expect to see him back, hopefully in the not too distant future.
"Arne's come back now. We'll see. Each day it's a good day for him, he's trained most of the week. We'll just keep any eye on things at this minute. We couldn't rule him out or in for Sunday."
