Micky Mellon has admitted the next week or so will be an absolute nightmare for self-isolating Neil Lennon.
The Celtic boss has been caught up in the Covid-19 fallout from the Hoops’ controversial return from Dubai.
Lennon missed Monday night's game with Hibs and has to spend 10 days away from his squad.
Mellon had to do something similar earlier in the season when the entire United coaching staff had to self-isolate after an outbreak at Tannadice.
And Mellon, who missed the Livingston game in December, said: “I can only speak about things from a distance.
“It is hard work.
“You are watching games and there are 30 second delays on (match) feeds, it is a nightmare.
“You are very, very detached from it.
“I made the decision that I couldn’t really affect it and pretty much stayed away from it to let the people who could affect things get on with it. “That is the big thing I learned because you can’t really impact or influence things.
“It is tough and it will be the same for Neil.
“it was new to me and I hope that I don’t have to go through it again.”
Celtic have confirmed Christopher Jullien has tested positive and Mellon admitted rather than trying to pin blame the most important thing is that everybody gets through the virus unscathed.
The United boss saw the effect it had on his own No. 2 Stephen Frail and knows it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Mellon added: “The most important thing is that everybody gets healthy again.
“It is a pandemic.
“The fit and well ones have to get on with the football while I hope the others get through things fit and well.
“You only have to look at the news to see what this pandemic is doing to the world.”
