Martin O'Neill vows Celtic will be on front foot in huge clash with Hearts

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill says his side will be going “all out” to defeat Hearts in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash – and noted that defeat would leave his side with a tough challenge in the title race.

The teams meet at Tynecastle with Hearts holding a six-point lead over O’Neill’s side, who are only ahead of third-placed Rangers on goal difference.

Though there are 15 games to play after this weekend’s fixtures, the outcome could have a huge impact on where the title ends up, and the Celtic boss is well aware of how big the stakes are.

“It’s going to be very big and there’s no question about it,” O’Neill said.

“If we get beat then it’s a long way back for us. It is a bit of a trek at the minute.

“We will just go all out to try and win the game if we can. It’s not the end of the road but nine points would be a lot to claw back in the games left.”

Celtic will travel to the capital just three days after an energy-sapping 2-2 draw away to Bologna in the Europa League, where the team played for more than 30 minutes with only ten men after Reo Hatate’s red card.

That doesn’t shape O’Neill’s attitude towards Sunday’s game, and he insisted that while a draw wouldn’t be a terrible result, he is aiming to take a victory and cut the gap to the top.

“I don’t think that’s in our nature [to look to a draw],” he said. “If you look at last night and the way we started the game, we closed players down and scored a goal from that. We took the game to Bologna.

“What’s the point in sitting back?

“Obviously getting a man sent off then as the game went on we had to retreat and they drove us back, as you would expect. They’re a very, very fine side and it was all hands to the pump.

“That’s the way the game goes but we will be as positive as we possibly can.

“We’ll try and win the game if we can, and if we can’t we will try and save it.”

With Kelechi Iheanacho back in training but not ready to start, new signing Tomas Cvancara might be in line for his debut after a possible injury that might deprive O’Neill of another forward option.

“Johnny Kenny has picked up some sort of calf strain,” he said. “He’s going for scans this afternoon so we’ll see.

“He might be a doubt, I’m not sure, but he said he felt it during the course of the time he was on. Hopefully other than that we’re ready to go.”

Cvancara didn’t travel to Italy, being ineligible for Europe, and has been getting used to life at his new club. O’Neill doesn’t want to raise expectations too high but is hopeful the forward can make an impact when called upon.

“He trained yesterday with the B lads and trained this morning [with the first team],” he said. “He’s ready to go.

“I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on him. He’s not going to be the panacea for all our ills and woes.

“Just let him get settled in. I think he’ll make an impact, and hope he does. I just wouldn’t want to be putting extreme pressure on him to solve all our problems.

“He could start on Sunday.

“I’m hoping he can [be a match-winning type of player]. That’s why we’ve taken him on.

“He wants to do well and we want him to do well. I think he’s capable of doing it but it’s on the field that counts.”