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Martin O’Neill will sweep back into Scottish football 20 years after leaving Celtic – and just 24 hours after talking UP Hearts’ title chances and completely writing off Rangers weeks after savaging his renewed rivals. The Irishman has been appointed interim Hoops boss alongside Shaun Maloney, who broke through at Parkhead under the 73-year-old, following the shock departure of Brendan Rodgers . And the stunning move comes just a day after he questioned Celtic’s physicality whole admitting they face a real title threat from the Jambos after their 3-1 defeat at Tynecastle on Sunday. O’Neill, who has been out of the dugout since leaving Nottingham Forest six years ago, was on his regular gig on talkSPORT radio before opting to swap the comfy studio seat for the Parkhead dug-out. The Irishman will take charge of his first game against Falkirk in the league on Wednesday before a massive Premier Sports Cup semi-final showdown against Rangers at Hampden on Sunday. And just a couple of months ago, O’Neill destroyed the Light Blues when he said the Rangers side he was up against under Dick Advocaat would have beaten them 12-0 ! That was while Russell Martin was in charge with the flop boss since replaced by Danny Rohl - at 36-years-old, less than half O’Neill’s age - but the current squad might not have taken too kindly to those scathing comments. O’Neill’s previous arrival kick-started a period of dominance which has seen Celtic win 18 of the past 25 championships, as well as 23 cup competitions. But the former Republic of Ireland manager returns with Hearts threatening to disrupt the dynamics of Scottish football after going eight points clear with a 3-1 win over the William Hill Premiership champions on Sunday. The result sparked an end to a fractious last few months of Rodgers’ second reign, which saw tension over transfer policy made public before principal shareholder Dermot Desmond accused the former Liverpool manager of being “divisive” and “self-serving”. O’Neill had given a frank appraisal of Celtic’s current strength and that of their nearest rivals during an appearance on TalkSPORT earlier on Monday. He said: “Hearts are on the rise. I know this time last year Aberdeen won a host of games early on and you knew that was never sustainable. They just couldn’t do it. "Hearts are a different kettle of fish. They are strong, they have got a bit of backing, and they are physically strong. “ Celtic can still play some beautiful football but you have got to add to that by being a bit physical. When teams are physical against you, you have got to be able to do that. Celtic just need to settle down. They have lost their way a little bit, Hearts are riding high, a long way to go.” When asked if this was the season that there could be a “disruptor” in Scottish football, O’Neill said: “Without a doubt, this is it. Celtic are not as physically strong, can actually lose games, whereas before they looked invincible in matches. “Rangers are no threat whatsoever, although the new manager ( Danny Rohl ), I think he can maybe do something in time. But they are so far adrift, it’s untrue. This is the moment, this is the time now for Hearts. They have gone eight points clear, and that is a decent enough lead, really. And their confidence is growing, and it will grow from that victory as well. All things are happening for Hearts, it’s great, whereas just at this minute Celtic are in a wee bit of trouble.” Speaking back in August, after Rangers drew 1-1 with St Mirren in Paisley, O’Neill said: “The Rangers side I was up against then would beat this Rangers side 12-0."
