If Celtic beat Dundee and Hearts see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, Nancy could take his new club top of the Premiership with a win in his first match in charge.
“It’s a nice one for him [against Hearts], a nice introduction,” O’Neill said. “It will be a difficult game of course and naturally I wish him well. At least he’s getting a side with a bit of confidence.”
That confidence stems from O’Neill’s success on the field in the past five weeks, when he has lost only once – 3-1 at Midtjylland in the Europa League.
However, the former Republic of Ireland manager and his players were then able to bounce back and claim their first away win in Europe since 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 last week.
Celtic are 21st in the 36-team table with three matches left to play, against Roma, Bologna and Utrecht.
“We lost to Midtjylland,” O’Neill said. “That was a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they mauled Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To go to Feyenoord and win away from home was terrific.
“We’ve given ourselves a chance, there are three games left to try to qualify, but that [Feyenoord game] was a restoration of confidence.”
