O'Neill on Engels & Johnston interest, 'pressing' for signings & 'character' Hogh

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been talking to the media before Monday's Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee. Here are the best bits from his press conference: O'Neill confirms West Ham have bid for midfielder Arne Engels, although it "doesn't remotely meet our valuation". He also says Everton have "been in contact" regarding right-back Alistair Johnston and revealed he spoke to David Moyes last week about the Canada defender. O'Neill stressed Celtic's aim is to try to keep both players and said it would be a "difficult task" to replace them, "but it's difficult to stop people if their ambition is to play in a big, big league". He says there is the "same buzz, same excitement, same fears, same everything" as ever before the start of the new season. Kasper Hogh is a "bit of a character" and O'Neill hopes the club's record signing will be "really good" for Celtic. O'Neill quipped he has "never been confident" when it comes to transfer windows, but reinforcements are needed regardless of whether players leave. He says the club are "pressing" for new players and believes they are capable of getting deals over the line. The 74-year-old believes Hogh and Camilo Duran are capable of playing together and wants Celtic to be flexible when it comes to using different systems. O'Neill recalled how difficult matches against Dundee were last season and expects a similar test this time around. Team news: Benjamin Nygren is back and available, while Auston Trusty only returned to training earlier this week after "family issues" in the United States. Liam Scales is suspended.