The Hoops boss will need all hands on deck for the run in as he gears up for crunch clash with Aberdeen

(Image: PA)

Martin O’Neill insists his January reinforcements CAN make an impact in the Premiership title run in.

The Celtic boss has challenged Reo Hatate to kick on from his Ibrox display ahead of tonight’s crucial league clash at Aberdeen – and revealed Viljami Sinisalo will get another shot at the no.1 role with Kasper Schmeichel still ill.

And O’Neill is not writing off the band of players be brought in during the winter window – despite just one of six new faces – Julian Araujo – finishing the dramatic draw with Rangers on Sunday.

Tomas Cvancara, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur were fit but not involved – while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Junior Adamu were both hooked at half-time. But O’Neill is convinced the new Bhoys will come good.

He said: “Yes, that was the expectation anyway. That’s exactly what you want to do.

“We’ve taken players in who, whatever they say about it, they might be playing in big leagues, but this is demanding – no more demanding than going to Ibrox for a start.

“But yes, now that they’ve seen what this is all about, you want them to come in and make the impact in the last couple of months of the season.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain got swept up in the Ibrox cauldron but O’Neill said: “I think that was understandable. This might sound ridiculous as Alex has played big, big games throughout his career.

“But when you haven’t played for some time and are then thrown into that, the game is helter-skelter and so it was difficult for him in moments.

“He showed a little bit of class here and there, but overall I thought it was difficult. But again, he’ll settle it each day as he does more training. He’ll get used to it.

“I’m hoping so. Absolutely. If he doesn’t kick another goal for us, he’s already played some part in that goal he scored (Livingston).

“But I’d be hoping for a bit more over the next 10 games.”

O’Neill also addressed Celtic’s other outcasts – with winger Mvuka not seen since his debut against Dundee last month and striker Kelechi Iheanacho not in the squad at Ibrox.

He said: “Yeah, again, I’m hoping there’ll be a bit of disappointment. He found it difficult in the first half in the Dundee game.

“He (Mvuka) has been out of the picture a little while. But no, he’s trained very, very well. Just recently trained very well, indeed.

“One that you haven’t mentioned is big Ben (Arthur), who I believe will be a player in his career.

“I don’t think he (Iheanacho) has played that much during the course of the season, to tell you the truth. But I think he’s got a good ability to hold it up. It’s just in terms of full fitness and things, that’s a bit of a concern.”

Mvuka and Iheanacho could figure in the coming weeks – but chances look less likely for frozen out Michel-Ange Balikwisha – whose only run out in O’Neill’s two stints in charge came against Auchinleck Talbot.

He said: “I do feel for him a little bit, because my job is not to please everyone here at the football club.

“To be perfectly honest, I don’t think he’s had a proper chance, because I thought there were other people that may be better equipped for this league at this minute.

“It might have been a different ball game if I’d had a pre-season.”

O’Neill’s focus is on his main core – and he laid down the guantlet to Ibrox hero Hatate. He said: “Reo has to get the best out of himself. He’s been a really fine footballer here.

Celtic’s Reo Hatate celebrates scoring to make it 2-2

“It’s been a tough old season for him. It’s been a tough old season for the football club.

“If he could maintain that form, then he can be an asset to us. But that would really be up to the player as much as anything.

“He gets all the encouragement in the world from us.”

The fight is on for the no.1 spot with Sinisalo now in pole position.

O’Neill said: “I’m quite sure that every single goalkeeper has had to sit back for a while and wait for your chance.

“Kasper’s had a great career behind him, this young lad’s trying to make a career in front of him. And I’m not saying that we’re using this as an opportunity, honestly. But it is and I’m sure you’ll find this an opportunity for him to impress and try to do well and hold down the spot.

“The decision was made for me. It’s a battle. And why shouldn’t goalkeepers have a battle on? Outfield players, we’re changing the side around, we’re chopping and changing at different stages.”