Interim manager Martin O’Neill has been speaking to the media before Celtic face Auchinleck Talbot in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup this weekend.

Here are the main points:

• On reported target Callum Wilson, O’Neill suggests it’s unlikely Celtic will sign the West Ham striker, saying: “I hadn’t thought about that. Not that he’s not a very fine player, but I thought he was going elsewhere.”
• When asked for an update on new signings, O’Neill says “remarkably we’re a bit closer”.
• But the boss, who has had transfer questions put to him numerous times this month, admits: “I dread these interviews, I dread the questions coming up. I can’t wait until 2 February.”
• O’Neill says it’s “absolutely essential” he gets new players in and stresses “we would like to have some people in for Hearts (25 January), if it was at all possible”.
• While he doesn’t think there will be new arrivals before this weekend, he’s hoping it happens “by some stage next week”.
• With the cup tie being played at Rugby Park instead of Auchinleck’s Beechwood Park, O’Neill says “if I wasn’t manager of Celtic I’d be disappointed” but admits “he’s quite pleased”.
• On his “good and bad” Scottish Cup memories, the 73-year-old says “I won it a few times, which is great”, but he is still upset about defeat to Inverness CT in the 2003 quarter-final, which O’Neill admits “was my fault because I changed the team completely” after beating Liverpool at Anfield three days prior in the Uefa Cup.
• O’Neill is “looking forward to the game immensely” but stresses Celtic must be “really careful” and is aware of the threat Auchinleck will pose: “They have some very, very decent attributes. They are a top-quality junior side, no question about it.”
• While “it would be terrific” for this season’s cup final to be his final game in charge, he admits “that’s a couple of light years away but that would be great if it were true”.