Issues had floor to a halt underneath Rodgers. Celtic have been merely terrible in a 2-0 defeat at Dens Park and never significantly better within the 3-1 mauling at Tynecastle.

That proved the ultimate straw for main shareholder Dermot Desmond and the board.

It has been evening and day since O’Neill returned to the membership the place he’d been revered in his earlier stint between 2000 and 2005.

The place Celtic had struggled for targets and creativity within the latter levels of the Rodgers period, they’ve flown in underneath the previous Republic of Eire supervisor.

Gamers who did not have a lot of a look-in earlier than, similar to Auston Trusty, Callum Osmand and Johnny Kenny, got an opportunity. The likes of Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, a shadow of their former selves early within the season, instantly look reborn.

This now seems extra just like the Celtic of a yr in the past, when Rodgers had the group on the peak of its powers, swatting home opposition apart and looking out like a really first rate Champions League outfit.

Whereas league leaders Hearts have, by their very own admission, misplaced their ‘swagger’ in current weeks, Celtic have rediscovered theirs.

“There’s been a response,” O’Neill advised Sky Sports activities after the win over Hibs. “Among the gamers can actually, actually play this sport. They only misplaced a little bit of confidence.

“Half the group would not have recognized who I used to be. They’re considering, this gentleman has arrived, fairly outdated, gray hair. Who’s he? And has Father Christmas come early? But it surely’s reinvigorated me, being round younger folks.

“I usually thought that, you realize, if you happen to can reward the gamers effectively, they’re going to settle for somewhat little bit of criticism, even at the present time.”