There was widespread surprise when O’Neill named a much-changed side to face Besiktas, with Camilo Duran and Callum Osmand among those left on the bench.

Writing in his Daily Record column, Sutton admitted he shared some of those concerns but held fire on criticising the Celtic boss. He said: “Martin O’Neill has chucked it. The Celtic team sheet is more like a white flag. He’s given up the ghost in Europe.

“Those were just some of the messages that lit up my phone when the team was announced for Besiktas the other night.

"I might have had similar feelings but I didn’t respond because I know football has a funny habit of biting you on the backside. And Martin O’Neill has a funny way of making folk eat their words.

“Turns out I was right to withhold judgement.”