GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 11: Celtic huddle ahead of kick off during the William Hill Premiership between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on April 11, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Four weeks before their SPFL opener against Dundee, Celtic get their pre-season campaign underway tonight away to Shelbourne.
It is the first match for permanent manager Martin O’Neill as he builds towards the start of the new season- with last season’s squad.
O’Neill’s appointment was confirmed on June 11. So far his only interview was with Gerry McCulloch for Celtic TV on June 27, the day after pre-season training resumed.
Going into the match Celtic are the only SPFL Premiership not to have added to their squad.
The title was clinched 52 days ago against Hearts but only Callum McGregor and James Forrest of the players involved that day start tonight at Tolka Park.
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— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 7, 2026
Going on past experiences no-one will play more than 45 minutes in the first pre-season match.
Cameron Carter-Vickers hasn’t played since being injured against Sturm Graz in October. Michel Ange Balikwisha last played in the Scottish Cup tie against Auchinleck Talbot in January.
THE CELTIC COUNTDOWN GETS UNDERWAY TO SEASON 26/27
O’Neill will be eagerly waiting the return of Celtic’s eight players from the World Cup. How many will remain at Celtic when the transfer window closes is one of many questions swirling around the club.
Since the season ended at Hampden on May 23 Celtic have lost Kelechi Iheranacho and Marcelo Saracchi.
On Saturday Alex Oxlaid Chamberlain signed up for another season but will meet up with the squad tomorrow in Portugal.
The squad fly out to Faro tomorrow morning with one match scheduled against Sporting Lisbon on July 14.
After that there are home matches against Middlesbrough on July 18 then AC Milan on July 25.
From then on it gets serious with Dundee on flag night on August 3.
That is quickly followed by the lucrative Champions League Play Off tie on August 18/19 and 25/26, two fixtures that could be worth more than £20m- the difference between the Europa League and Champions League.
Balikwisha is amongst the worst players I have ever seen wear the shirt.
5m we paid…utterly unbelievable.
I will confidently predict he will never prove me wrong.