O’Neill is planning for a closed-doors friendly to give his returning stars some minutes before competitive action

Martin O’Neill with Celtic captain Callum McGregor & Anthony Ralston

Martin O’Neill has revealed Celtic are targeting a behind the scenes sharpener to help his returning stars hit the ground running.

Key man Alistair Johnston is on the brink of ending six months on the sidelines and livewire striker Callum Osmand, not seen since November, is also stepping up his recovery from a serious muscle injury.

Arne Engels’ comeback against St Mirren was welcomed after Julian Araujo’s season ended and Colby Donovan faces an injury scare.

The double blow at right-back is softened by Johnston’s bid to return to action. O’Neill admits the plan is to get key men up to full speed before they enter the mix amid a pulsating three-way Scottish Premiership title fight with Hearts and Rangers.

The 74-year-old said: “We will try to get a bounce game for some of the players coming back. That was the plan for Alistair Johnston’s return from his time in Canada.

“We were going to organise that and it would help. We don’t want to rush people back but if they are feeling good and want to have a bounce game, that would be ideal.”

O’Neill lamented the current injury plight and named a trio of bonafide first-team talents who are unavailable.

The Irishman has rued a lack of energy in recent weeks and can point to the absence of standout players whose seasons have been ripped apart by long-term injury.

He added: “I’ve not seen Jota, Carter-Vickers or Johnston throughout my two spells. These are guys who have in the past been automatic choices.”

O’Neill took a momentary pause from the title saga’s mania as he toasted fellow veteran Roy Hodgson’s return to the dugout.

The former England manager – four years O’Neill’s senior at 78 – found the insatiable lure of a return to the dugout too good to turn down.

And the Hoops boss admits he’s planning a chat, as he couldn’t resist a traditional one-liner.

He said: “I was delighted when Roy got the job and I meant to give him a call straight away.

“Honestly, I don’t want to be starting a trend now! I felt like a child by comparison when he was appointed but I was happy for him.

“He’s had a couple of results since going in there and I was planning to speak to him.”