Celtic issue update on four missing players as key man nurses Achilles issue and star gets extended leave

Defenders Auston Trusty and Alistair Johnston, as well as winger Yang Hyun-jun and attacking midfielder Benjamin Nygren, were absent for Saturday’s 2-2 friendly draw at home to AC Milan.

However, O’Neill expects the quartet - who all performed at the World Cup - to be back with the main squad next week ahead of facing Dundee on league duty a week on Monday.

O’Neill revealed that he had given American defender Trusty more time off due to personal circumstances. “Trusty comes back on Monday,” said O’Neill. “He's had some family things. I've given him a little bit of extra time, which I think he's deserved.”

On Nygren, who was part of the Sweden set-up, O’Neill explained that he is nursing an injury. “Nygren's here,” said the manager. “He didn't play, he's got a bit of an Achilles problem. I think he's okay. He played for Sweden in at least one of the games. I don't think it's massive.”

On Canadian Johnston and Korean Yang, O’Neill said: “I was hoping that Alistair (Johnston) might have played maybe 20 minutes, he was ready for it. I have to be guided by our sports science guys. If anything happened to him, I'd get it in the neck from the sports science boys.

“Yang's back. He's done some training. A little bit of a hiccup there a couple of days ago, but he'll be fine.

“I'm probably less concerned about those boys because they have played matches in the World Cup. You take a little bit of a break and the last thing you want to do is be rushing them back. By Monday, I think everybody will be back.”