Welsh has made 17 appearances since becoming a member of Nicely on mortgage in September, serving to Jens Berthel Askou’s aspect report 9 clear sheets and transfer as much as fourth within the Scottish Premiership desk.

United States centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers continues to be a key absentee for Celtic and, though Scotland left-back Kieran Tierney also can cowl that place, O’Neill views Liam Scales, Auston Trusty and Dane Murray as his present choices within the center.

Requested why Welsh had been recalled, the interim boss replied: “He is having a extremely nice time at Motherwell and I perceive, from a taking part in viewpoint, that having received himself up and working and doing nice, he most likely did not need that disturbed.

“However there was a cut-off level the place we may take him again after which ship him again to Motherwell if that was the case. Which may occur.

“I have to admit I hadn’t realised the variety of matches he had performed for this membership – Champions League matches as properly.

“We’ve got three centre-backs in the intervening time. If something occurred to any of them, we may discover ourselves in a little bit of hassle.”

O’Neill stated that, with captain Callum McGregor lacking from central midfield and striker Kelechi Iheanacho additionally struggling accidents, these had been additionally areas he was trying to bolster.

“I do not, for example, see Jota being again this season,” he revealed of the winger who injured his cruciate ligament in April. “I believe [right-back Alistair] Johnston will most likely make a comeback someday in March.”

The Northern Irishman solely took over for a second interim spell after the sacking of Wilfried Nancy on 5 January, with Paul Tisdale additionally leaving as the pinnacle of soccer operations.

Nevertheless, O’Neill was not ready guilty the very fact gamers might need been initially focused for the Frenchman’s particular system for the dearth of signings.

“I do know you’re pondering we’re midway by way of January, however the January switch window is at all times fairly tough,” he stated.

“I might like to blame different folks, no, however it’s right down to me. We’re genuinely working actually onerous within the background, so there isn’t any obstacle in that sense.

“It is simply making an attempt to get some folks in that we predict may assist us now, no less than till the tip of the season. I’ve discarded some, however we’re making progress, or we predict we’re.

“When it comes to perhaps numbers, we would not thoughts getting just a few in.”