Martin O'Neill spotted at Championship game during potential Celtic scouting mission

Martin O'Neill has got Celtic fans talking after he was spotted attending a Championship match between Preston North End and Queens Park Rangers.

The veteran boss' time as manager at Celtic is set to come to end at the end of the season, however, reports suggest that he might be in line for a different role at Parkhead heading into the next campaign.

So, when he was spotted at Deepdale on Easter Monday, fans were quick to speculate that he had been sent on a scouting mission alongside assistant coach Mark Fotheringham.

Sunday saw O'Neill guide his side to a hard-fought win over Dundee to maintain a title push but, instead of resting on the Monday, there was a near six-hour round trip to Deepdale on the agenda.

Preston drew 1-1 with Championship rivals QPR and speculation is mounting regarding the reason for the trip.

The most popular theory is that the duo were in attendance to get a closer look at prospective transfer targets for this summer with Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin two names that have grabbed the attention of supporters.

Devine is currently on loan at Preston from Tottenham Hotspur while Dobbin is enjoying a temporary switch from fellow Premier League club Aston Villa.

23-year-old Dobbin has impressed so far this season, chipping in with seven goals and seven assists.

Another possible name is that of Danish goalkeeper Daniel Iversen. The former Rotherham, Stoke and Leicester stopper was signed on a free by Preston last summer and could be seen as an ideal replacement for fellow countryman Kasper Schmeichel whose contract is set to expire this summer.

The Bhoys have one regular season fixture remaining in the Scottish Premiership before the league splits for the final five matches.

Celtic will host Hearts on the final day of the campaign in what promises to be an absolutely crucial clash in the race for the title.