Former Republic of Ireland winger James McClean has offered a revealing insight into Martin O’Neill’s coaching methods, with his comments taking on fresh significance amid questions about Celtic’s tactical approach.

Writing in his recently released autobiography, The Walls, McClean describes how O’Neill’s preference for trusting experienced players to solve problems during matches created difficulties as Ireland’s squad changed.

Our Celtic manager page covers his record and background.

Reflecting on that period, McClean wrote: “Martin wasn’t big on tactics. He would say the game hadn’t changed as much as people thought. It was still 11 versus 11, and he trusted good footballers to sort problems out on the pitch.”

The comments offer an interesting perspective on O’Neill’s management philosophy, particularly with Celtic currently facing questions about their structure and consistency.

McClean believes a change in the type of players representing Ireland contributed to tensions over O’Neill’s approach.

The experienced squad that reached Euro 2016 was gradually replaced by younger players accustomed to receiving more detailed coaching instructions.

McClean explained: “But we had an influx of mainly Championship players into the group. Younger lads who had come through in an environment where they were heavily coached and had everything mapped out for them. Tactics, tactics, tactics.

“They couldn’t understand Martin’s way of doing things. It was like: ‘What’s this? Why aren’t we doing more?'”

His account suggests that O’Neill’s methods worked more naturally with experienced players who were comfortable making decisions independently.

However, those same expectations proved more challenging for footballers accustomed to clearly defined tactical instructions.

The historical comments are particularly interesting following Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Dundee United on Wednesday.

He also revealed that limited time on the training pitch means some players are learning aspects of Celtic’s approach during competitive fixtures.

“But quite a lot of the time, the boys are sort of learning on the job as well,” McGregor said.

That does not establish that O’Neill is using precisely the same methods he employed with Ireland.

His current Celtic coaching staff includes Shaun Maloney, while the club’s summer recruitment and disrupted pre-season have also affected preparations.

Nevertheless, McClean’s account raises a legitimate question about how much detailed guidance Celtic’s current squad requires.

O’Neill’s achievements cannot be overlooked. He guided Celtic to a remarkable Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season, adding to the seven major trophies won during his first spell in Glasgow.

But the current campaign has exposed recurring difficulties with midfield control, defensive transitions and players operating outside their natural positions.

O’Neill has previously defended his willingness to change systems and adapt to different opponents, making clear that he accepts responsibility for team selection and tactics.

McClean’s account provides another perspective on how the manager approaches those decisions.

With Celtic preparing to face Falkirk on Sunday, the immediate question is whether O’Neill and Maloney can establish the clarity McGregor believes the team still needs.