Martin O'Neill has no Celtic safety fears over Rangers return amid police visit as boss mulls over major call

Police and stewards were injured after Celtic won a Scottish Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out on March 8. Visiting fans spilled on to the pitch to celebrate and Rangers supporters charged towards them, with fireworks thrown back and forth. At least 37 people were arrested.

It was alleged that a Celtic staff member was attacked, while then Rangers captain James Tavernier reported racial abuse. The fall-out of the match has led to no away supporters being permitted into Ibrox for this match or subsequent SPFL games between the two teams this season.

O’Neill and his players were visited by Police Scotland officers on Friday and were given a “general behaviour” warning for their trip across Glasgow, which is likely to be given closer scrutiny by authorities than normal after the events earlier this year.

Asked if O’Neill had any worries about returning to the stadium, the Celtic manager responded: “No, I don't. I think since we've got no fans going to the game at all, there'll be nothing for people to remonstrate about.

"I think it was a good thing for them [the police] to come and just give us a reminder. Not to have any sort of intimidation, not to cause our own problems.

"They did not say that, they were just talking in general terms, talking about behaviour on the field. And obviously talking about the potential aftermath of the game.

“I think it’s the overall picture. Gosh, it’d be nice to have something to celebrate. I think it’s just general behaviour from us. They didn’t mention this but I would have assumed that one of the things that they considered is what happens on the field of play, because these things can be taken further.

“You don’t want any sort of punch-ups for a start, secondly, you don’t want too excessive celebrations, stuff like that, if that was the case. I mean, I’d be delighted to be celebrating something in the game. But it’s the behaviour in the light of what has happened in recent fixtures.”

Celtic midfielder Mika Baur did not train on Friday, but O’Neill expects the in-form German midfielder to play. Centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers is set to be involved after missing the 1-0 win over St Johnstone on Wednesday, while left-back Kieran Tierney is in line for return to the starting XI.

O’Neill has yet to decide whether late summer signing Sam Johnstone keeps his place in goal or makes way for Viljami Sinisalo, who started the season as number one. Experienced England international Johnstone, on loan from Wolves, impressed on his Celtic debut at McDiarmid Park but O’Neill was coy about the trip to Govan.

He said: “I haven’t made my mind up at all. It was a matter of getting a look at what Sam can do. It’s great to have the two of them. Big Viljami has done exceptionally well for us and it was just, again, an opportunity to see what Sam can do now.

“What he could do a couple of years ago was fantastic, what he can do now might be a totally different picture. I will let them know first.”