RONNY DEILA today admitted he is hoping to strengthen his Celtic squad further before the end of the January transfer window.

Deila has already secured the services of Dundee United and Scotland winger Gary Mackay-Steven on a pre-contract agreement.

He admitted it may be difficult to bring in the 24-year-old to Parkhead for a fee this month, even though United risk losing him for nothing.

But the Norwegian stressed that he is optimistic that new faces will arrive in the coming days.

Asked if Mackay-Steven could join in January, he said: "We'll see. It's very hard. We're trying different things now. We'll see what we come up to in the end."

Deila added: "We are looking at players and hopefully we will get someone in. I hate these weeks, they are so difficult.

"These are very challenging weeks because you want to focus on football. On the pitch is the most important thing and the most fun thing I think.

"And then you have to put a lot of focus on how we get the right players. There is so much uncertainty. You like a player, suddenly the player has to want to come, then the club doesn't want to sell.

"There are so many different things when you start on a project, then it stops. It's a lot of work. It's very important that you have people around you who you trust because you can't be in every stadium.

"To work as a team, that's so important with my staff. We have to rely on each other. That will make the best out of us.

"I don't get faxes emails and calls but, if you ask John Park (Celtic chief scout), he has high numbers, very high numbers. He's on the phone constantly. It's a hard job for him."