Martin O’Neill has strengthened his Celtic players in a tough game at Tannadice which has proved to be a big challenge in recent months.
Celtic are set for a tough test at Tannadice
Former Aberdeen manager Peter Leven called it the worst place he has ever seen in his football career after last month’s goalless New Firm derby.
After continued wet weather and the postponement of waterlogged pitches, the pitch will be dry, but O’Neill knows it could have an impact on Sunday’s William Hill Premiership clash with Dundee United.
“I think it’s a really tough game for us,” he said. “We know though, as long as we’re mentally ready for that, that’s fine.
“I’m sure that even after a few days, I don’t see that the stadium will be that much better.
“And obviously it’s going to be the same for both sides, so we’re going to continue with it.
“It’s a big game. But there will be a lot of wins from now until the end of the season.”
United are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing their derby lead by two goals in stoppage time at Dens Park.
Manager Jim Goodwin said: “I said to the players if we can do the same thing we did last Sunday, we will give ourselves a good chance of getting a good result.
“We know what both teams are facing, especially what Celtic are looking forward to in terms of the challenge they are trying to put on Hearts and Rangers in order to win the title.
“You can argue that there is more pressure on the Celtic players than mine but we are a home team. We played very well and had a good result against Celtic when we last played them in Tannadice and we have to take confidence from that to this country.
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The head referee confirmed that there will be a discussion.
“When we beat them at Tannadice it was under Wilfried Nancy playing a different system. Now obviously Martin O’Neill is back to a more familiar 4-3-3 and we faced that at Parkhead – they gave us a very difficult time.
“We have to learn from Parkhead, we have to take a bit of confidence from the Tannadice game and we have to build on the good moments we showed against Dundee. If we can put all that together we will give ourselves a chance to get a good result.”
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O’Neill was “very surprised” by Celtic’s new starter
One man who will miss Sunday’s crucial game is Kasper Schmeichel, the goalkeeper who has admitted his career could be over when he undergoes shoulder surgery.
O’Neill revealed that he was impressed by the Dane’s replacement, 24-year-old Viljami Sinisalo.
“I’m very surprised, it’s nice to see him trying to use this opportunity in difficult situations against the goalkeeper, no matter what happens, there is a shadow of what is happening behind the scenes.
“He has always wanted to do well and he has been included in big games, it seems that he did well at Ibrox last season as well.
“But I judge him in my time here. The first game I put him in was against Auchinleck in the cup at Kilmarnock. I thought there were a few things he could handle. He did well against Dundee in the cup, and then he grew in Stuttgart and the Ibrox games.
“I’m happy for him, I’m very happy [being No 1 next season] It could be someone else’s decision, but I’m very happy for him.”
The former Aston Villa youngster has a chance to make the first shirt his own in the coming weeks, but the Hoops are expected to pursue reinforcements in that position this summer, while at the top of the pitch there are doubts over Benjamin Nygren’s future.
