Celtic will have to wait for Forest's Kevin Wilson

It is believed the Championship club would rather retain his services as they prove strong contenders for a play-off place but the situation could change as the window prepares to shut. Interest in loan deals for more experienced centre-backs Celtic are believed to be pursuing and the possibility of the likes of Glen Loovens or Jos Hooiveld accepting temporary deals away from the club could also come into the equation.

Meanwhile, there remains no certainties regarding the proposed deal for Norwegian striker Erik Husekelpp, below. Talks have stalled with Celtic believed to have offered Brann around 1 million up front with a further 500,000 in add-ons while the Norwegian club are understood to be seeking a fee of 2m. "There is a discrepancy between the two clubs," Celtic manager Neil Lennon said. "If it gets done, great. There are other options that are possibles."

Lennon is sensitive over suggestions that adding more players to a squad last week bolstered by the arrival of forward Freddie Ljungberg might give the impression he is beginning to stockpile players. At the club's AGM, chief executive Peter Lawwell remarked that it wasn't possible to operate with a 35-man squad. "I don't think I've got a 35-man squad," Lennon said testily. "I've got players out on loan already. Those who come back from six-month loans will go out again."

Lennon could point to a derby victory last Sunday as demonstrating the value of having depth within his squad. Missing eight players, five of whom would have been certain starters, he sent out a young team who performed with a maturity and belief he admitted to having not seen previously. It is a result Lennon is justifiably keen to talk up, for had the outcome been different, it would have been used as a stick with which to batter him and his squad.

Lennon conceded that his team's Scottish Cup tie away to Berwick this afternoon was "just about the worst kind of game after such a big win". "The preparations have gone OK but the players can't take anything for granted," he said. With players such as Scott Brown, Anthony Stokes, Marc Crosas, Efrain Juarez and Jos Hooiveld choking for game time, Lennon will surely be prepared to make changes from Sunday's victorious, but untried, selection. "I don't want to change it too much because everyone wants to play," the Celtic manager said.

The text doing the rounds this week was that the combined transfer fees of the Celtic starting line-up at Ibrox did not amount to the 3.5m Rangers paid Burnley for Kyle Lafferty. The reality is that Celtic's XI might have cost in the region of 200,000 more but the point is made. What would be of greater interest to Lennon was not so much cost as the command that players such as 580,000 Honduran left-back Emilio Izaguirre, 200,000 centre-back Thomas Rogne and 1.3m midfielder Beram Kayal exhibited.

Izaguirre was described by Lennon as a player still learning the game but who has filled a position his club have been struggling to "for a long time". The 20-year-old Rogne has now established a partnership with Daniel Majstorovic that, with only 13 goals conceded for the first 19 games, is responsible for Celtic's best defensive record in the first half of a season since 2003-4. "[Rogne] always had the talent and but for injuries would have played a lot more."

The same is true of Kayal who, in tandem with Joe Ledley, Lennon believes provided the platform for Celtic to boss the second half at Ibrox. "Joe was very responsible and did a lot of donkey work, that you probably would expect," he said of the Welshman who delivered the piercing 40-yard pass that set-up Georgios Samaras for his opener. "Kayal did as well as we hoped he would do. He is very good at winning the ball back but his passing was also pleasing. The ball was like a magnet for him and Ledley the way it came to them. That is not luck; it's good football."

A week ago Lennon's methods and transfer record were being lamented as throwing players at problems without rhyme or reason. Suddenly, on the back of the club's first meaningful SPL win over their ancient adversaries, his detractors are willing to accept the Irishman and his club may have a measure of both. That is football Glasgow-style for you. Devoid of rhyme or reason.

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