There is something deeply uncomfortable about watching sections of the Celtic support call for Martin O’Neill to resign. This is a manager who returned when the Hoops needed him most last season, steadied a side that appeared to be falling apart and somehow delivered a Premiership and Scottish Cup double against the odds.

Yet football rarely allows sentiment to dictate results, and the concerns surrounding O’Neill and Shaun Maloney are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Our Celtic manager page covers his record and background.

Celtic remain four points clear at the top of the Premiership, yet their last nine competitive matches have produced just three wins, one draw and five defeats.

Sixteen goals scored and 17 conceded. Those are troubling figures for a side expected to dominate domestically and compete in Europe.

One major concern is Celtic’s lack of an effective counter-press.

Under previous managers, losing possession often triggered an immediate, coordinated attempt to win the ball back.

Now, opponents frequently appear to have more time to play through midfield and exploit space behind Celtic’s attacking players.

Celtic can still create chances and win matches, but they are not consistently controlling them.

The absence of a holding midfielder makes matters worse.

Callum McGregor remains an important player, but at this stage of his career, asking him to cover so much ground defensively is becoming increasingly problematic.

His physical decline is a difficult subject, but one Celtic cannot afford to ignore.

Kasper Høgh’s situation raises further questions.

The striker has three goals in 15 appearances, all scored against Kilmarnock in August.

Against Dundee United, he started centrally with Camilo Durán and Callum Osmand, both natural strikers, playing wide.

At half-time, O’Neill introduced Jota and Haissem Hassan, finally providing natural width, but removed Høgh.

It meant the striker missed the opportunity to benefit from their deliveries.

Jota’s cross for Liam Scales’ equaliser demonstrated exactly what that service can produce.

Høgh has yet to enjoy a sustained opportunity alongside Jota, Hassan and Kieran Tierney, although Jota’s recovery has understandably complicated selection.

Oliver Sørensen is another concern.

Signed during a summer that saw Arne Engels leave, the midfielder has made just seven appearances.

His energy and running power could help Celtic’s midfield, particularly during transitions, yet he has not been given a consistent run in a box-to-box role.

O’Neill does not deserve to see his Celtic legacy overshadowed by calls for his departure.

But last season’s extraordinary rescue cannot exempt him from scrutiny.

The hope is that O’Neill and Maloney can turn things around.

Nobody wants this chapter to end badly for a manager who has given Celtic so much.

But winning the league and building a team capable of sustained dominance are different challenges.

After five defeats in nine matches, the uncomfortable question is whether O’Neill’s current approach can deliver both.