Celtic boss Martin O'Neill warns players to steer clear of social media and keep eyes on the prize

Martin O’Neill ordered his players to steer clear of social media and stay focused on securing a return to the Champions League.

Celtic are on the cusp of securing their place in the business end of Europe’s most prestigious competition again following last week’s 3-0 win over LASK in Glasgow.

O’Neill and his players travel to Austria tomorrow ahead of Tuesday’s return leg in the Raiffeisen Arena.

And although the Parkhead men are hot favourites to progress thanks to goals in the first game from Benjamin Nygren and Camilo Duran, O’Neill feels there’s no danger of anything being taken for granted.

‘Honestly, I swear to you, there will be no complacency,’ he said.

‘The players know it, they absolutely do know that we’re playing against a really good side.

Colby Donovan played well in front of new Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli last week

Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth has been strongly linked with a move to Celtic 

‘They’re capable of scoring with a lot of pace up front. They’re strong, athletic and even their smaller lads are very, very quick.

‘So, we’ve got our work cut out.

‘I don’t even think I’ll have to say anything to our lads, I really don’t.

‘Of course, I had some chat after the game the other night. But I promise you, regardless of the result, we will not be complacent.

‘One thing I said to the players was don’t be going on Facebook or Instagram, or whatever else they call it. I told them, leave it, leave it. They know. And if they don’t know then they shouldn’t be playing the game.’

O’Neill last managed in the tournament in season 2004-05 and knows that a clean sheet will complete a remarkable return to that stage at the age of 74.

With first-choice right-back Alistair Johnston likely to be sidelined for a prolonged period after his hamstring issue recurred, the Northern Irishman will again turn to Colby Donovan after the teenager excelled in the first leg.

‘The defence was great, really, really great,’ he reflected.

‘I suppose it was probably epitomised by Colby, throwing his body in there and getting challenges in. He really stuck to the task.

‘Funnily enough, in some of the European games last season he stepped up well for us too.

‘He may not have all the things that Alistair Johnston possesses. But he has massive heart.’

Donovan was watched at first hand last week by new Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli.

The Belgian is finalising his squad for the Nations League games which start against Slovenia next month.

Asked if he felt that Donovan might now be a part of the new set-up for the national team, O’Neill said: ‘That will be up to the Scotland manager to decide that. But if it was on pure heart alone, Colby would be the captain.

‘It’s really nice to see him doing do well.

‘I know I have signed some foreign players and I know there are questions being asked about the dearth of young Scottish players coming through.

‘I think back to my early playing days and every side in the First Division – what they call the Premier League now – had Scots.

‘At Nottingham Forest, we had loads.

‘Peter Cormack, Dougie Fraser, Tommy Gemmell came, and then a little guy called Jimmy McIntosh. We had a load of Scottish players.”

O’Neill is hopeful that Donovan’s story can act as an aspiration to others in his position.

‘I’d hope so,’ he said. ‘We have a couple of young lads playing the B team who I think will be really good players. By the time that they are, I will be well and truly gone!

‘But they will be good players.

‘They’re only 17 now, one called Liam Kennedy, who is a really good footballer. I’m also hoping that wee Sean McArdle pushes on and comes right through.

‘We need a wee bit of luck somewhere along the way, but we have one or two lads who I would love to watch at Hampden one day playing for Scotland.’

While O’Neill signed some big names in his first spell at the club, he takes pride from handing debuts to a number of academy graduates.

‘I think I earned my spurs in that aspect,’ he reflected.

‘But it’s like everything else, young players will come through if they’re good enough.

‘(Shaun) Maloney, you could tell a mile away he was going to be good enough to play in the side.

‘It was the same with (Aiden) McGeady and others. John Kennedy was destined for a really good career before it was cut short.’

Meanwhile, O’Neill has confirmed that he’s in the market for a new goalkeeper before the transfer window closes on September 3.

With Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan already at the club, Celtic have been strongly linked with Balazs Toth of Blackburn.

‘We need another goalkeeper,’ O’Neill said.

‘But I think Viljami was fantastic on Wednesday night with some big, big saves for us at 2-0.

‘They were in the ascendency at that stage too.

‘We’ll be bringing in competition, but he can only thrive on that. That’s the whole point.

‘When he came, he signed as a No2.

‘Kasper Schmeichel was the goalkeeper at that stage but since his injury, Viljami has been super for us.

‘If he gets a wee bit stronger and fills out a little bit more so he can take the buffeting, then that could help.

‘I maybe should have mentioned that to him first!

‘No, I said to him in the dressing room that I thought he did great.’

O’Neill made no secret of what qualification would mean to him, adding: ‘I would love to do it.

‘But honestly… Tuesday, I wish it would never come.’