O'Neill 'just as determined' to lead Celtic

Martin O'Neill insists he is the man to lead Celtic forward after a "time of reflection" during the ongoing international break.

The 74-year-old signed a one-year deal to stay at Parkhead after two interim spells last season culminated in a league and Scottish Cup double.

Following two defeats by Rangers last month - either side of a 3-1 home defeat by Ferencvaros in the Europa League - O'Neill said "it might be time to wrap it up" , in reference to his managerial career.

However, Celtic rallied around their legendary boss, with chief executive Michael Nicholson publicly backing the Northern Irishman .

And two weeks on, O'Neill himself has now stated he has the drive to stay on.

"I am extremely prepared now for it," O'Neill said in a club interview. "We had a difficult week. That can happen. You can lose to your arch-rivals, you can lose the European game.

"It's certainly not the end of the world as it seemed to be described as. I thought I would take a bit of time, and it didn't take me that much time to think about it.

"I want to lead the club, I want to try to win the league and I'm just as determined now than ever before.

"It was a time of reflection for a moment or two, but overall, I'm back, I'm raring to go and the team's ready."