Celtic manager Brendan O'Neill has been released from hospital, though the club has yet to determine when he will be able to resume his duties, with assistant Shaun Maloney confirming there is currently no fixed timeline for his return to the touchline.
Speaking ahead of Celtic's upcoming trip to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, Maloney indicated that O'Neill's availability for the weekend fixture remains genuinely uncertain and will be assessed on a day-by-day basis.
"Even for the game at the weekend, it's sort of day-to-day," Maloney said. "We saw him last night with regards to the preparation for the game and then he wasn't in today. I'll speak to him this afternoon and then he'll make a call for tomorrow. And then I'd imagine he'll make the call for the game at the weekend."
Maloney added that preparations were continuing regardless of the final decision. "But, if it's this weekend, great. If it isn't, then we'll prepare for it with that one," he said.
Should O'Neill be unable to travel, Maloney - who has previous managerial experience at Hibernian and Wigan Athletic - would be expected to step in and take charge of the side for the match. He conceded that such a scenario would feel unusual given the impact O'Neill has had since taking over at the club in October.
"It would be strange," Maloney admitted, referring to the prospect of leading the team himself at Rugby Park. He was quick to praise the influence O'Neill has had on both players and staff during his short spell in charge.
"We'll definitely miss him if he's not there but you also have to respect what's happened the last few days," Maloney said. "The impact that he's had over, what was it, since October, it's been nothing short of incredible really - the things that he does with the players and the staff. So we will miss him, but we'll be prepared. We've got some brilliant senior players, but we'll see. We'll let him make the call."
On the transfer front, Maloney does not anticipate any new arrivals being finalised before Sunday's match against Kilmarnock. Celtic have been linked with a move for Real Oviedo's Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan, but Maloney made clear that such business remains a matter handled solely by O'Neill and chief executive Michael Nicholson, with the coaching staff not directly involved in those discussions.
There has also been ongoing speculation regarding interest in midfielder Arne Engels and right-back Alistair Johnston, both of whom have attracted attention from elsewhere. However, Maloney said he had no indication that either player would be unavailable for selection against Kilmarnock, suggesting that any transfer interest has not affected their inclusion in the squad for the weekend trip.
With O'Neill's health being carefully managed following his hospital stay, Celtic's immediate focus turns to ensuring the squad is properly prepared for Rugby Park, whether or not their manager is present. The club will continue to monitor his condition in the coming days, with a final decision on his involvement expected closer to kick-off.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.