Ange Postecoglou has spoken about the work going on behind the scenes at Celtic, picking out Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham for praise in Martin O’Neill’s current setup. The former Hoops boss pointed to the coaching group as the team push through a demanding run of games.

O’Neill stepped back in during a tough period, and results have picked up since then. That hasn’t come from one voice alone. The work on the training pitch and in preparation has been shared, with familiar faces playing their part.

Maloney has taken on a clear role in that group. He’s been working closely with the attacking players, helping with movement and decision-making in the final third. That tends to show in games where Celtic need to break down teams sitting deep.

Fotheringham’s role is less obvious, but it feeds into how the team is set up. Midfield shape and positioning have looked more settled lately, especially when Celtic are trying to see games out.

He said: (The Herald), “I came across Shaun a couple of times in Scotland.

“He’s well connected at Celtic and is very passionate about the club. My understanding is that he’s a very good coach as well. Martin trusts him a great deal to drive a lot of the programme which is important. I think you should delegate to the people around you. Shaun’s a big part of it.

“Martin has Mark Fotheringham as well. They’ve got a good group there. The circumstances have been difficult because they’ve come in twice.

“That’s really hard as a management team, to drive a really successful club through a tough period. They’ve done an outstanding job and that’s a credit to all of them.”

The point about trust stands out. O’Neill has leaned on the staff around him rather than trying to do everything himself. That allows more detail in the work during the week, which often shows when games become tight.

There have been spells this season where Celtic have lost control in matches. Lately, they look more organised when they lose the ball and clearer in how they build attacks.

That kind of change comes from the work done between games. With the schedule packed, the staff have had to get their ideas across quickly.

Postecoglou’s view reflects that. What happens on the training ground carries into matchday, and Celtic have started to look more settled as that work begins to show.