Martin O’Neill is known for his humor, which is so understated that it often obscures the key points he makes.

However, after his recent appearance in the media room at Celtic Park on Sunday, it seemed clear that the idea of staying on as interim manager didn’t seem as appealing to him as it did just a week earlier.

Following a victory over Rangers in the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup, the Northern Irishman was quite candid when asked if he wanted to lead the team again against St Mirren at Hampden on December 14. “Well, secretly you would love to,” he admitted.

The next challenge was a trip to Denmark for a Europa League match with Midtjylland, which didn’t go as planned.

Martin O’Neill admits Celtic’s hectic schedule is taking its toll on him

O’Neill took charge of the Celtic team for the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday

On Friday night, O’Neill had a prior commitment to attend a theater event on Glasgow’s south side, where he shared anecdotes and engaged with audience questions.

After conducting training on Saturday morning, he spent that evening in Paisley, watching St Mirren face off against Hibernian, as they are Celtic’s upcoming opponents.

Having also ploughed through a raft of media interviews, finally he turned his mind to picking and preparing the team to take on Kilmarnock.

All of this would have been taxing enough for a man half his age. Even after a satisfying 4-0 win, you could certainly understand the reluctance of a 73-year-old to commit there and then to more.

Asked if he’d stay on if the invitation came from Dermot Desmond, O’Neill replied: ‘Do you know, that is a genuinely good point.

‘So, I’m going to be serious here. I really don’t know.

‘I was going to say it’s a young man’s game. And I’m almost talking myself out of this here. But it’s been tough, you know. All the things that I kind of thought I knew about it, have come to sort of fruition.

‘You know, about the strength of the side, or what I thought I saw from a distance.

‘European football is where you want to be. But what has happened to the football club since Bayern Munich…

Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston will require surgery after incurring a hamstring injury

‘But if you’re asking me? Well, how do I look? Not great, you know. Not great.’

While O’Neill was clearly speaking at the end of a breathless period which began with him taking Desmond’s call while having coffee on the King’s Road, his concerns about staying in situ were obvious.

Although a sprightly septuagenarian, he’s clearly felt his age since being asked to help his old club out. The all-encompassing nature of the Celtic job hasn’t changed in the 20 years since he’s been away.

For all the team has enjoyed an uplift in form since he took charge, the current squad plainly lacks depth and quality.

This situation has now been amplified by injuries to key players including Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi.

O’Neill looked genuinely deflated when imparting the news that Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand now both require surgery on their respective hamstring injuries. Celtic are struggling for bodies even before they count them back in after the international break.

The schedule leading up to League Cup Final is also extremely challenging. After St Mirren on Saturday week, there’s Feyenoord and Hibs away, then Dundee, Hearts and Roma at home.

Those seven games in 23 days will go a long way to defining Celtic’s season. As things stand, it’s hard to see that they have the players to cope.

You could well understand if O’Neill has now looked closely at what lies between now and the final and reconsidered his position.

Aside from a predicable loss to the Danes last Thursday, his return to date has been a success. With that dramatic victory over Rangers sandwiched in between a pair of comfortable four-goal wins in the Premiership, there’s a lot to be said for getting out while the going is good.

O’Neill answered the call in his former club’s time of need. He’d be well within his rights to now feel that he’s done his bit.

Celtic suffered a painful 3-1 Europa League defeat to Danish side Midtjylland

This is all, of course, predicated upon the assumption that Desmond will even ask the question.

With Celtic’s annual general meeting coming up on November 21, it goes without saying that a club that’s known no little fans unrest in recent times could do with offering a long-term vision.

A good starting point would be having a permanent manager sitting on the stage. This may prove easier said than done.

With Rodgers’ contract set to expire next summer, Desmond would already have been considering possible replacements.

The trouble is that his abrupt resignation brought matters to a head far earlier than anyone anticipated.

Unless Celtic’s powerbroker fancies picking up the phone again to Ange Postecoglou, he faces the devil’s own job to secure a new permanent boss by Friday week.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna didn’t exactly hit for six suggestions he’d be interested in the Celtic post when grilled on the matter last week. Word has it, though, that it would cost the Parkhead club £5million to free him from his contact at Portman Road.

The fact that Kjetil Knutsen will soon finally be out of contract with Bodo/Glimt removes the compensation barrier.

The Norwegian’s remarkable success in Norway, winning four titles and taking a lesser-known club to the semi-final of the Europa League, has seen him offered – and reject – a string of lucrative deals throughout Europe.

The domestic season ends there on November 30. If Celtic are prepared to stay patient – perhaps letting Shaun Maloney hold the fort – they could land the highly-rated 57-year-old.

Knutsen certainly didn’t seem opposed to the idea when links with Celtic were put to him at the weekend.

‘I am here now and I am happy,’ he said. ‘It is hopeless to answer about another club.

Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen is a candidate to take the Celtic job

Celtic major shareholder Dermot Desmond has a good track record in appointing managers

‘I answer as I always do – (if I leave) it should be something that is more exciting than Glimt.’

Desmond’s liking for appointing fellow Irishman is one reason why the name Robbie Keane, currently in charge of Ferencvaros, has been floated.

Frenchman Wilfried Nancy is another bookmaker’s favourite. The 48-year-old Columbus Crew manager led the team to the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024. With his side now out of the play-offs, he has a long gap in his schedule.

Desmond certainly does not have his critics to seek for the way he operates at Celtic.

One thing he’s excelled at, however, is appointing football managers. The first major call he got right came when he opted for O’Neill ahead of Guus Hiddink in the summer of 2000.

Some 25 years on, the legendary status of the man from Kilrea has only been enhanced by him agreeing to reprise the role. There should be no consternation if he now wants to leave it there.