CELTIC will make one final push to strengthen their squad ahead of the transfer window closing a week today.

But the odds are heavily stacked against either Paul Robinson or Alexander Madlung being the final piece in Gordon Strachan's jigsaw.

West Brom left-back Robinson was a target, but the Parkhead club believe the opportunity to sign the 29-year-old has now gone.

Strachan will go into the first half of the season with Mark Wilson as his first-choice left-back, and Lee Naylor the back-up.

Naylor - who is recovering from a leg injury picked up in the opening game - still wants to return south to be closer to his daughter, But, the club have not been prepared to sanction his departure unless adequate cover is recruited. With this now looking unlikely, Naylor will be required to see out the remainder of his contract.

Strachan has been more successful acquiring another central defender, and Glenn Loovens looked comfortable as he made his debut for the injured Gary Caldwell at the weekend.

The arrival of the Dutchman has seen Celtic's interest in Wolfsburg's £2.5m-rated Madlung diminish, even though the German - who did not feature in last night's game against Bochum - was reported in one newspaper in his homeland to have flown into Glasgow for signing talks.

The player's agent, Uwe Kathmann, has confirmed there is no offer either to sign for Celtic or even to fly to Scotland.

Kathmann has not given up entirely on Celtic bidding for the 26- year-old, who is in the final year of his contract with the Bundesliga club.

The 3-0 win - and clean sheet - enjoyed by Celtic at the weekend has delighted Strachan, and the impact made by Shaun Maloney on his return repaid the manager's faith in the former Player of the Year.

Maloney was part of £5.4m worth of talent making their debuts, with Loovens and the little striker joined late on by Marc Crosas.

But injuries to Scott McDonald, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Caldwell have muted any celebrations and the race is on to get all three fit for Sunday's game against Rangers.

McDonald pulled out of Saturday's game with a damaged groin muscle.

Strachan will also check on the leg gash which saw Vennegoor stretchered off in the first half against Falkirk. The concern is there might also be some ligament damage.

Artur Boruc will discover today if he has been omitted from the Poland squad for their two World Cup qualifiers. The keeper has apologised on the national team's website for breaking a curfew while in Ukraine last week.