Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has called for patience surrounding January arrivals as the club aims to close the six-point gap between themselves and league leaders Hearts. 

O'Neill, who returned to Celtic at the start of January following Wilfried Nancy's disastrous 33-day tenure, maintained his 100% record in domestic competition on Wednesday. 

Benjamin Nygren's 43rd-minute goal was enough to seal a 1-0 away win over Falkirk, though the way in which they got themselves over the line was a concern. 

Celtic registered an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.77 from their eight shots, two of which were on target, compared to Falkirk's 1.77 from 11 attempts at Kasper Schmeichel. 

Only right-back Julian Araujo has joined the Parkhead club on loan so far this month, though O'Neill was not overly concerned about the lack of activity in the transfer window. 

"We're making progress on things and certainly by the end of the window we should have some players to supplement this squad," O'Neill told BBC Scotland.

"I thought my time was done here, so I wasn't expecting to pick up the pieces and look at the players. Just give us a little bit of time, cut me a little bit of slack and we'll be OK.

"The focus is to try and win some football matches, but the other aspect to it is to add a bit of extra quality to help the players out here.

"I know you're thinking, we're halfway through January now, but I think that we're relatively close."

Celtic made 11 signings in the summer, nine of which were permanent, headlined by Sebastian Tounekti's transfer from Hammarby. 

It is believed that a striker or a wide attacker is at the top of Celtic's wish list, with O'Neill confirming that he is unlikely to have Jota to call on for the rest of the season. 

Jota has been out since suffering a serious knee injury against Dundee United last April. It had been hoped he would return in February to help the Hoops in the title run-in.

"Obviously, I'd like to bolster the squad," O'Niell added. "I don't see, for instance, in terms of the long-term injuries, I don't see Jota being back this season.

"I think that Alistair Johnston would probably make a fight back, and he's hoping to be maybe sometime in March, and that would be great if that's the case.

"But the longer-term injuries, I don't see it."

Celtic have already recalled Stephen Welsh from his loan at Motherwell. With Cameron Carter-Vickers still out injured, O'Neill wanted cover for Auston Trusty and Liam Scales.

Welsh has impressed at Fir Park, but the interim Celtic boss insisted they had no choice.

"Number one, he's our player. So that means something," O'Neill said. 

"He's having a really great time at Motherwell, and I understand from a playing viewpoint that having got himself up and running, he might not have wanted that disturbed.

"There was a cut-off point where we could take him back and then send him back to Motherwell. That might happen."