Is O'Neill running out of miracles?

He's cast across various memes and social media posts as a semi-religious figure for some Celtic supporters. Saint Martin, the messiah. A halo above a solemn depiction of his portrait.

His former protege at both Celtic and Aston Villa, Stiliyan Petrov, told me the other day that his ex-gaffer is indeed 'doing miracles'. The question now is: has the magic run out?

Surely there's only so long he can keep the side in contention at the top of the table given the damage done in the latter stages of Brendan Rodgers' tenure and the defeat-strewn chaos of Wilfried Nancy's disastrous short spell in charge. That chaotic month undid all the good work of O'Neill's first interim stint. That he's had to come back to firefight once again sums up Celtic's omnishambles of a season.

It looked for a while as if the legendary Parkhead boss might indeed be able to pull off the seemingly impossible. He yet might. Things appear to be creaking at the seams, however.

The first big crack to appear, of course, was his first domestic defeat since returning to the hotseat. Failing to win a key home game in the title run-in is not the sign of champions. You could point, of course, to Auston Trusty's lack of discipline as a major contributory factor in the loss to Hibs. You could just as easily argue the defeat was in the post.

A struggle to get past Dundee in the Scottish Cup. Another struggle at home against basement boys Livingston. Yet another late goal to see off struggling Kilmarnock. Celtic were just about getting away with it until Hibs left Glasgow's east end with all the points for the first time since 2010.

The O'Neill stats are still most impressive: one solitary Premiership defeat from 12 matches. In all domestic competition since his return he's won 13 of his 15 games. That's title form but only if it can be sustained. Therein lies the problem and the challenge. To this observer, Cetlic look spent. Out on their feet. It seems to me as if O'Neill has eked every ounce of energy and quality from an underachieving group of players just to get to this point. What's left?

Handed the hospital pass of a flat, demoralised squad twice, the Northern Irishman needed an instant impact from his January recruits. He's still waiting.

The formality of the European exit to Stuttgart is followed by two trips to Ibrox in a week with a trip to Pittodrie in the middle.

Those Celtic fans saying a prayer will also be hoping the days of miracles from Saint Martin are not yet a thing of the past.