Celtic's hopes of recording a domestic Treble have been handed a major boost with news that three players have agreed to extend their stay atParkhead.
Tom Boyd, Shaun Maloney and Johan Mjallby have all signed new contracts with the Parkhead club, who will complete their first clean sweep ofhonours if they overcome Hibernian in the Scottish Cup Final tomorrow.
Manager Martin O'Neill has spent recent weeks attempting to secure the futures of many key players and, while striker Henrik Larsson hasdominated speculation, it is his countryman Mjallby who has agreed to stay until 2004.
And O'Neill was full of praise for the giant defender, who has fought back from an injury sustained on international duty to become a mainstay inthe centre of the Hoops defence.
"Johan's had a really great year for us. When I arrived at the club, he was just coming back from Euro 2000 with a niggling injury and was on thebench for the next couple of matches.
"But after the Rangers game he's made that central defensive position almost his own. He's adapted very well indeed and has put his effort anddetermination into developing his own game," O'Neill told Celtic's official website, www.celticfc.net.
"He knows that I've been delighted with him and delighted for him. He also knows himself the standards he's set and, as we bring in better players,he will be looking to improve.
"Deep down, I didn't know any of the lads intimately enough to judge them when I arrived here but there's no doubt I've been delighted with theway Johan's settled into things."
Boyd, who was recently rewarded for his commitment to the club with a testimonial against Manchester United, has finally put his name to theone-year extension he had been promised.
O'Neill was quick to promise his club captain that he is still likely to feature in the Premier League for Celtic next season.
"Boydy deserves another year," he said. "I'm not in the business of handing out contracts for the sake of it because I've a budget to work within.
"If he has the same sort of input as he has had this season I'll be more than delighted. He's been a long-term servant here who has gone throughsome poor times and never complained once about his wages.
"I'm pleased for him because he knows the competition afoot and, although I'm hoping that will only get stronger, I'll be more than happy to haveTommy to call on when the occasion calls."
O'Neill has also moved quickly to tie promising young striker Maloney to the club on a two-year deal after impressing on his rare first-teamchances.
Maloney took many by surprise when he burst on to the scene in Celtic's 3-0 win at Rangers, nearly scoring with his first touch, but O'Neill is notsurprised by his quick development.
"He's done very well so far and I just hope that he continues to make the same kind of progress over the next few months and years," he said.
"If he keeps developing and grows an inch or two there's no doubt that he's got as good a chance as any of making the grade here.
"If he continues to be in first-team contention over the next six months we can resume contract talks again. But at the moment I feel that theimportant thing for him is a bit of stability.
"He knows that he's in my plans but I'm well aware of the pitfalls of young lads coming through, making a big impact and then failing to build onthat."
PA