Paul Lambert on Martin O'Neill's Future at Celtic

Paul Lambert says he would not be surprised if Martin O'Neill chose to walk away from Celtic – but insists he would be "shocked and disappointed" if the club sacked their manager.

O'Neill, 74, has been rocked by a grim run of results. Celtic have lost back-to-back Old Firm derbies to Rangers and were beaten at home by Ferencvaros in the Europa League. That sequence followed a stunning Champions League collapse against LASK in August, when a 4-0 aggregate lead was thrown away.

With an international break now on the horizon, O'Neill has admitted he will use the pause to assess his position after a bruising spell.

"I will reflect on the games," said O'Neill, who was appointed permanent manager for a second time in the summer after two interim stints last season ended with a league and Scottish Cup double.

The Irishman, who collected seven more trophies with Celtic between 2000 and 2005 while Lambert was a key figure in his midfield, knows the scrutiny is intense.

"I'm not immune from criticism. Absolutely and utterly far from it," he said. "I think there's every reason to ask 'can you turn this round? Can you change the whole thing?' I have to kind of look at the bigger picture at this minute."

Lambert, now 57, believes that bigger picture should still count for plenty.

He calls O'Neill the club's best manager since the legendary Jock Stein, and argues the current pressure should not erase years of success or goodwill.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he left. I don't think he needs it," Lambert said. "I'd be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked him.

"I think they give him the option, if that's what's on his mind, if he did want to walk away.

"He's got enough credit in the bank. It wasn't that long ago people were shouting for a statue for him, so I don't think you can go from one extreme to the other.

"If he wants to go, then he goes himself."