Martin O’Neill insists Celtic are “working hard” so as to add to the squad and believes new signings are “relatively close.”
Solely right-back Julian Araujo has joined the Parkhead membership on mortgage to this point this month, with a striker remaining high of the needed record.
Followers have gotten agitated on the lack of switch exercise with the Hoops at present sitting third within the Scottish Premiership, however O’Neill is assured of strengthening this month.
“I’d love to blame other people, but it’s down to me,” he stated forward of Wednesday’s league journey to Falkirk.
“The January switch window is fairly troublesome as a result of until you have recognized a participant that you just completely know goes to enhance your group and that you just’re ready to spend the cash on him.
“We are genuinely working really hard in the background, so there’s no impediment in that sense. It’s just trying to get some people in that we think could help us now, at least until the end of the season.”
Requested if he had been supplied potential signings, O’Neill added: “That’s true, sure, and I’ve discarded some.
“We are, I know, famous last words, but we are making progress, or we think we are.
“However you are speaking about agreements with golf equipment, you are speaking about if that is the case for a begin, primary, after which secondly with gamers themselves, after which individuals discovering out that, or gamers discovering out that there is curiosity elsewhere.
“So you’re competing, all those particular things come into consideration, which is no surprise to me.
“I do know you are considering, we’re midway by January now, however I believe that we’re comparatively shut.
Jota set to overlook complete marketing campaign
O’Neill additionally revealed Celtic are unlikely to have Jota out there in any respect this season.
The 26-year-old winger has been out since struggling a critical knee damage in opposition to Dundee United in April final 12 months.
It had been hoped he would return in February to assist the Hoops within the title run-in.
“Obviously, I’d like to bolster the squad,” the Northern Irishman added.
“I don’t see, for instance, in terms of the long-term injuries, I don’t see Jota being back this season.
“I believe that Alistair Johnston would in all probability make a struggle again, and he is hoping to be possibly someday in March, and that will be nice if that is the case.
“But the longer-term injuries, I don’t see it.”
Celtic have recalled centre-back Stephen Welsh from his mortgage at Motherwell.
With Cameron Carter-Vickers nonetheless out injured, O’Neill needed cowl for Auston Trusty and Liam Scales.
Welsh has impressed at Fir Park, however the interim boss insisted that they had no selection.
“Number one, he’s our player. So that means something,” the previous Leicester supervisor added.
“He’s having a really great time at Motherwell, and I understand from a playing viewpoint that having got himself up and running, he might not have wanted that disturbed.
“There was a cut-off level the place we may take him again after which ship him again to Motherwell. That may occur.”
