O'Neill must be backed in 'big summer' for Celtic - Lambert

Paul Lambert (left) enjoyed huge success under Martin O'Neill at Celtic [SNS] When Martin O'Neill returned for his second interim spell after Wilfried Nancy's sacking, he spoke frequently of the need to supplement the Celtic squad in the January window. And yet none of the players signed on loan in January featured after the split. Some were injured, others evidently not rated or trusted by O'Neill. That trend simply cannot continue this summer and Paul Lambert believes O'Neill will play a big part in reshaping the squad. "Hopefully he gets the players he wants to carry the club forward," the former Celtic captain told BBC Scotland. "It's a big summer for Celtic. I think what happened last year has given them a fright. What he did was galvanise things and I'm pretty sure he will have the last say on which players come in." Again, forward areas will likely be the priority, especially if Daizen Maeda leaves. Celtic still have not effectively replaced Kyogo Furuhashi, while Jota's quality in wide areas is unable to be harnessed because of long-term injury. Celtic's attacking output has clearly regressed. In the 2024-25 title-winning campaign under Brendan Rodgers, they scored 112 league goals. Last term, they managed just 73. Still, O'Neill can look back to the summer of 2000 - his first at Celtic - for inspiration. Chris Sutton, Joos Valgaeren and Alan Thompson - three hugely successful figures for the club - were all signed under the Northern Irishman's watch, before Neil Lennon followed in the January of 2001. A similar summer window would go a long way to reshaping Celtic's squad and easing any simmering unrest among the club's fanbase.