ONE transfer window has closed and now the countdown to another deadline is on for Celtic.

Neil Lennon managed to squeeze one last deal in before the Scottish market shut for business on Saturday night, young goalkeeper Max Oberschmidt arriving on loan from Fulham as the money gained from summer sales and European exploits remained in the Parkhead coffers.

It was hardly one to get Hoops fans excited after a frantic few days that saw them secure their place in the Champions League and then record their third Premiership win of the season at Dundee United just hours before the window creaked shut north of the border.

However, the majority of Lennon's business had already been completed. Having seen moves for Peterborough's Lee Tomlin and Alexander Buttner, the Manchester United left-back, fail to get over the line in the final hours of business, Lennon must now go with what he has got until January as domestic and European challenges await.

With clubs across the continent, and in England, still able to wheel and deal until late tonight, Celtic could, in theory, lose another of their big stars following the departures of Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Kelvin Wilson already this summer, but that is a scenario everyone at Parkhead is determined will not unfold.

Instead, the focus will be on making the most of what they have at their disposal and ensuring that latest arrivals, Teemu Pukki and Nir Biton, settle quickly into life in Paradise.

While work was going on behind the scenes on Saturday to further strengthen Lennon's hand, the Hoops boss had more pressing matters to contend with as his side eventually saw off United 1-0 in a hard-fought encounter at Tannadice.

Celtic started well and finished in style against Jackie McNamara's side, a late free-kick from Anthony Stokes enough to give the champions victory, but it was the showings of two summer signings that would have given Lennon optimism for the months ahead.

The loss of Mikael Lustig to an ankle injury just before the hour mark saw the Celtic boss turn to striker Amido Balde for inspiration.

His faith in the forward turned out to be well placed, the 22-year-old giving the champions a more physical route to goal after too many attacking forays broke down on the sticky surface Lennon would lament in the aftermath of a deserved victory.

"They must not have a sprinkler system at Tannadice," he said. "It affected the game. It affected the likes of Gary Mackay-Steven and David Goodwillie, and Kris Commons and Derk Boerrigter.

"It affected the flow of the game. We couldn't get any consistent passing movements going."

He went on: "We decided in the second half, with the Lustig injury, to go with Balde and play a bit more direct and miss the midfield out.

"He gives us a different dimension. I know he is raw and has got a bit to do, but you can see what he brings to the team.

"We created a lot more in the final third towards the end of the game."

The three points may have been collected and Celtic's efforts justly rewarded, but the champions were not at their effervescent best against a United side that, on paper at least, had the ability to cause them far more problems than they did in the Tayside sunshine.

Fraser Forster, who has left Lennoxtown behind to join up with Roy Hodgson's England squad ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifier double- header with Moldova and Ukraine, was rarely tested as McNamara's side failed to put the Hoops rearguard under any sustained pressure.

Forster's lack of action may have been in part down to a profligate United forward line, but those in front of him must also take some credit, with summer signing Virgil van Dijk and Efe Ambrose making the most of their chance to prove they should be Lennon's first-choice pairing.

"I thought the two centre- halves were outstanding," he said. "I thought van Dijk showed all the attributes why we brought him here. That is the standard now. Efe has been playing very well since the start of the season."

With back-to-back wins on the European and domestic stage now secured, the satisfaction at a job well done thus far will turn into trepidation for Lennon and Hoops fans as the Scottish game shuts down for the international break.

The Lennoxtown dressing room and training pitches will be far quieter in the coming days than usual, with a host of Celtic's key men jetting out to represent their countries.

A tricky trip to Tynecastle and then the daunting journey to the San Siro await Lennon's international stars on their return to domestic duties following the latest round of World Cup qualifying fixtures and the Parkhead boss has his hopes pinned on a clean bill of health.

"It is always a difficult time," he conceded. "We have picked up an injury on Saturday with Mikael and we are hoping that it's not too serious. We don't want to lose any more players."