Celtic WILL need to spend quickly to rebuild as it's a struggle at the moment, admits Martin O'Neill

Martin O'Neill insists Celtic’s squad will need a major overhaul if the club are to start challenging in Europe once again.

The Scottish champions take on Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Thursday evening in a Europa League clash, with O’Neill bidding for one last hurrah before he hands over to incoming boss Wilfried Nancy early next week.

The Parkhead club will look to breathe new life into what has been a dismal European campaign thus far when they face Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord at De Kuip Stadium.

Celtic started the season by crashing out of the Champions League qualifiers against Kairat Almaty and have been unimpressive since dropping down to the Europa League.

A summer of poor recruitment was one of the factors which eventually led to the departure of Brendan Rodgers.

O’Neill has stressed the importance of the new manager being given funds and resources - and insists the squad will need a major rebuild to compete properly in Europe.

‘Recruitment is essential,’ said the 73-year-old, who is expected to take charge of Celtic for a final time against Hibs on Sunday before handing over to Nancy.

‘It’s really important. I think last year in terms of Europe it was like a nice, shining light, as if you could push on [after reaching Champions League knockout stages]. Then you step back again and it’s not so strong.

‘In the next couple of years, Celtic will come again in European football. They might just have to step back for a while at this minute. But recruitment is really important.

‘I know people always say about January being a difficult window, and it may well be.

‘But if you’re talking about rebuilding the football club to be able to compete in Europe and to be able to not have a big intake of breath when someone expects you to go to Feyenoord and win, then that is the point.

‘Jock Stein said it - European football is where Celtic should be. But at this minute it’s a struggle for us.’

Celtic are now in the final stages of talks with Nancy. The 48-year-old Frenchman is expected to be in Glasgow over the weekend and could be in the stands for the game against Hibs at Easter Road.

Barring any late hitches, he will be unveiled early next week as the permanent successor to Rodgers.

Asked what advice he had for the new manager, O’Neill said: ‘He has to win - and he has to win right from the off. You’ve got to win.

‘Celtic over the last 20 years have obviously been the dominating force in Scottish football, but honest to God, it would be the exact same message for the new manager going in at Rangers.

‘First of all, winning gives you a bit of respite, and then it gives you a chance to build a team in your manner, whatever that manner may be. It’s all of those things.’

Celtic currently have four points from four games. Victory over Feyenoord would reinvigorate their campaign and give them a chance of progressing.

It would also give O’Neill a rousing send-off on the European scene at the notoriously loud and hostile De Kuip.

Asked about the chance to go out on a high, he added: ‘That would be nice. Listen, I have no doubt that there is difficulty ahead of us. But it would be nice to do that.

‘We have this game and then the Hibs game at the weekend and seemingly, although I’ve not been told officially, from what I heard, that’ll be it [finished].

‘I think there are still things at the other end that have to be sorted out yet. But I think I’m definitely here for this one and then Hibs. So it would be lovely to leave on a good note.

‘It seems like ten points would be enough to see us through so that means winning another two games. This will not be easy.

‘Then the next man will have two home games, although one of these is against Roma who are top of Serie A at the moment. We know it’ll be tough.’