The Hoops’ hopes of prolonging their Europa League campaign into the knockout stages suffered a major blow as the Danes hammered in three goals in eight first-half minutes.

Teenage substitute Callum Osmand won a late penalty which Reo Hatate converted, but the 19-year-old was then taken off on a stretcher in tears after suffering what appeared to be a hamstring injury on a horrible evening for the Scottish champions.

O’Neill had seen how dangerous Midtjylland can be first hand just last month when they beat Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest, before the 73-year-old answered the call to return to Celtic after Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation.

They had travelled to the Danish city of Herning with a sense of optimism too.

Back in the Hoops dug-out after 20 years, O’Neill had already l

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