Celtic were without two key players due to injury in Sunday’s Scottish Cup win at Ibrox

Martin O’Neill has revealed an update on the injury returns of key Celtic duo Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney, after the pair were both absent for the Old Firm on Sunday.

Celtic were victorious against their arch-rivals Rangers despite this, as the Hoops withheld significant second-half pressure to earn a 4-2 penalty shootout win after 120 tense but goalless minutes of football.

The result was marred somewhat by scenes at full-time as fans of both sides encroached onto the pitch and launched flares, leading to much discussion in the aftermath of the game over the viability of having away fans at Old Firm matches.

Hoops left-back Tierney was out of action with a foot injury picked up against Aberdeen in midweek and captain McGregor was a shock omission from the line-up, normally an ever-present for the Buoys, due to what O’Neill revealed was a recurrence of an injury problem picked up last season. The Celtic boss spoke about when both players will aim to be back.

McGregor and Tierney injury timelines revealed

O’Neill said post-match: “I'm hoping that he [Tierney] will be back for next week. Callum, we would just have to have a look.

"Before the game, when the two of them dropped out, it was a major loss. So for the players to compensate for that, it was brilliant.

“I think that [winning without McGregor] shouldn't be overlooked,” he continued. “He was feeling it in Aberdeen [on Wednesday]. I think the medical team were saying it's something that was here last year and maybe has come back. So the best thing to do was just to take him out of it.

"Kieran Tierney was certainly not right to start in the game. He might have been able to have come on, I think, but I thought, well, who knows what might happen during the course of it. He might have been forced to go on after five minutes in the match and he wouldn't have lasted. So for us to miss two big players like that there and still come through, it was brilliant.”

Celtic pair have been key players for the Hoops this term

Midfield leader McGregor has made 47 appearances in all competitions this season, registering three goals and two assists and maintaining his role as a key cog in the Celtic side. His absence is certainly felt when he does not play and the same can be said for Tierney, who has made 42 appearances this term.

The left-back re-joined his boyhood club from Arsenal last summer and has contributed five goals and 11 assists, including an important goal to get the Hoops back in the game in their 2-2 Scottish Premiership trip to Ibrox at the start of this month.

O’Neill added on the result on Sunday as Celtic came away victors on this occasion, their second trip to Rangers in as many weekends: "Obviously delighted that we're still in the [Scottish Cup] competition. The players showed phenomenal courage and great, great determination and a rear guard action, which is really commendable. Everyone to a man did more than their jobs. They were really terrific."