'Needs must' - Lack of Celtic transfer activity leads to unwanted call as boss cites 'main problem' after quiet start to window
The interim Hoops boss has explained why he decided to recall centre-back Stephen Welsh from his loan spell at Motherwell
Martin O'Neill has declared Celtic’s lack of transfer activity left him with no option but to recall Stephen Welsh from his impressive loan spell at fellow Premiership side Motherwell.
The Hoops exercised their right to bring 25-year-old defender back into the Parkhead fold on Sunday night, despite excelling under Jens Berthel Askou at Fir Park.
Welsh returned to first-team training at Lennoxtown yesterday, but interim Hoops boss O'Neill revealed the Coatbridge-born centre-back could return to the Steelmen before the end of the window, if the champions sign a new stopper.
It's understood that Celtic ARE in the market for at least one centre-half, a winger and a striker this month.
Speaking on Celtic TV, O’Neill outlined his reasons for cutting short Welsh’s season-loan loan stint. He explained: “Well, at the moment. He's enjoying himself immensely at Motherwell. We have this opportunity to do that and he could go back out again before the end of the window, back to Motherwell if he can.
“The last thing you want to do is stop someone from really enjoying themselves. He's having a really, really great season with a team that's flying. They've played some beautiful football.
“But I only had a chance here this morning just to say hello to him. Really in essence, we at this moment until we get some recruitments in, it's needs must.
“I'm totally unaware of the rules at this moment having been out for some time. But I think it was reminded that we had to do something pretty quickly. If it passed a certain day, then we couldn't do it. I think there's a cut-off.
“As I said, we will see. But it's just in case we have anything that happens to any of our defensive players. We've got three at the minute. We've got young Dane (Murray), who is very inexperienced in that sense, who I think can definitely be a player. I think there's a player there.
“So if anything happens to those lads at all, then you are in a bit of trouble. So we might look at something again but we'll see. But that's the reason for it.”
Martin O’Neill cites ‘main problem’ behind Celtic’s perilous league position
Welsh could be included in Celtic's matchday squad for Wednesday's trip to high-flying Falkirk. And O'Neill feels his side can't afford any more slip-ups in the title race.
He added: “Because we've given ourselves a bit of difficulty in winning some games recently, we have a real fight on our hands.
“This time last year and quite a number of years, Celtic would be seemingly from a distance, serenely going to the title and being able to not worry too much about the occasional hiccup... You might drop some points unexpectedly somewhere, but you're still so far in front that things are good.
“Here we cannot. We've got ourselves into a situation where the margin of error is very, very small. That's the main problem.”