Celtic: Maeda fit as O’Neill prepares for last Old Firm derby

This season, in two separate spells, O’Neill is unbeaten in three meetings with Rangers, winning both cup competitions after extra time and drawing at Ibrox in the league.

During his first spell at the club between 2000–05, O’Neill won 16 derbies, drew three and lost eight.

Celtic are on a run of four league wins in a row, while Rangers have lost their last two matches.

However, Rangers won their last visit to Celtic Park in January when Wilfred Nancy was in charge of the hosts.

O’Neill was cautious when asked about picking up the pace at the right time.

“I don’t really know that,” he said. “The games we had were tough. So I didn’t try to analyze it so much. We crossed the line.

“But I think the Old Farm game takes care of itself.”

Addressing his future, O’Neill replied “probably” when asked if this would be his last derby game.

Reminiscing about the famous fixture, he added: “Just the intensity, the atmosphere itself, both at Celtic Park and at Ibrox. It’s really fantastic.

“The atmosphere at Ibrox where they scored two goals early in the match, the place was really, really rocking, compared to any atmosphere in Britain and probably Europe.

“And I think that might be echoed on Sunday.”