IT WAS almost 21 years ago that Martin O’Neill last experienced European football as manager of Celtic.

The Irishman was in charge as the Hoops were held to a scoreless stalemate with AC Milan at Parkhead in December 2004.

O’Neill will bridge the gap in Denmark tomorrow night when he leads the team into their 5.45pm kick-off in the Europa League encounter against FC Midtjylland.

And the 73-year-old interim gaffer faces a tough challenge against a team who have won their previous three games in the competition while the Hoops, with Brendan Rodgers in the dug-out, have won one, drawn one and lost one.

O’Neill, of course, has been pitched back into the European battlefield in dramatic circumstances after the resignation of Brendan Rodgers at the start of last week.

The charismatic Irishman guided the team to a 4-0 victory over Falkirk only 48 hours after answering the call from Dermot Desmond. He stopped the rot after two successive Premiership defeats aganst Dundee (0-2) and Hearts (1-3).

And he kept the feelgood factor rolling along when the holders overcame Rangers 3-1 after extra-time in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday.

Celtic go into tomorrow night’s...