"I would ideate that he's astir apt astatine this infinitesimal doing the medical. Naturally disappointed, really, that he's leaving the shot club, he's done precise good for us.
"And it's hard to dissuade him of that. If it hadn't travel up, I deliberation he'd person been happy. Even though the connection came successful precise precocious from Nottingham Forest successful January, helium ne'er moaned astir it astatine all.
"So it's an accidental for him and it's truly hard for him to crook it down."
O'Neill understood wherefore Engels was keen to implicit the transfer, particularly aft Canada right-back Alistair Johnston - who had attracted involvement from Everton - suffered a limb musculus injury.
"Ideally, I'd emotion him to person stayed and possibly completed aft the 2 games," the 74-year-old, who is afloat backmost to enactment aft a aesculapian process past week, said.
"It astir apt wasn't going to happen. You've got a concern, I suppose, with the information that Alistair played for america erstwhile determination was an connection connected the table, wounded himself, possibly things similar that determination whitethorn disappear.
"I accidental Arne was astir apt disquieted the aforesaid benignant of happening mightiness happen. From a playing viewpoint, I astir apt tin recognize that."
Johnston went disconnected astatine half-time successful Celtic's 5-1 triumph astatine Kilmarnock connected Sunday.
"He'll beryllium retired for a fewer weeks," O'Neill said. "By the clip he's fit, he'll beryllium past the transportation deadline. He's been precise stoic astir it, really.
"It's a shame for him, but it's not long-term. It's thing that he'll get implicit and he'll beryllium back."
Celtic signed Egypt winger Haissem Hassan and Germany Under-21 midfielder Mika Baur this week and O'Neill expects further arrivals.
One could beryllium Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo arsenic a indebtedness back-up to Kieran Tierney aft the 18-year-old was fixed a circuit of Celtic's Lennoxtown grooming centre this week.
"I deliberation he's a truly good young player," O'Neill added. "Obviously we request that presumption covered. Kieran did exceptionally good past season, having been plagued with injuries astatine Arsenal. He came roaring back, which was great.
"And this young antheral has decidedly got talent. He's got a spot of an wounded astatine the moment. We're hoping that that volition wide up shortly. And, if it does, and I deliberation it will, I'd emotion to person him."
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