SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS ROUND-UP:CELTIC MANAGER Gordon Strachan has scoffed at suggestions that his bust-up with Aiden McGeady has presented him with his biggest test in his time at Parkhead.

The 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international was excluded from training with the first team for two weeks and fined two weeks' wages after a dressingroom bust-up with Strachan following last Saturday's 1-1 Scottish Premier League draw with Hearts.

McGeady, who was "shocked" by the severity of the punishment, intends to appeal the decision which will ensure the saga rumbles on well into the new year unless the player is sold in the January transfer window.

McGeady's plight has dominated Scottish football this week but Strachan began his weekly press conference ahead of tomorrow's trip to Falkirk mainly sticking to the club's official position on the issue.

"For you it was the story of the week," he said. "It's different for me. But I will take you back to Tuesday when we made the statement. Nothing has changed from then and that's it as far as I'm concerned. The statement is self-explanatory and that is all we have to say at this moment in time."

However, asked if he had endured his most challenging week at Celtic in the three-and-half seasons he has been in charge of the club, the manager, who confirmed that McGeady had been using the training facilities at Lennoxtown, replied: "Far from it, I can assure you. There have been far, far, far, far - and I can keep going with these 'fars' for a long time - worse weeks than this. Trust me. Far more."

The smart money is on McGeady leaving the club in the transfer window, but even before last Saturday's bust-up with the player, Strachan was busy attempting to freshen up his squad.

The Celtic manager was happy to speak about the players he has recently signed, about to sign or has no chance of signing.

After capturing 21-year-old Northern Ireland international Niall McGinn during the week - the second Derry City player to arrive at Parkhead following the summer recruitment of Paddy McCourt - Strachan has tied up 18-year-old Czech defender Milan Misun.

The former Southampton and Coventry manager insists he is taking a long-term view on his young recruits. "We are not a club who can spend millions and millions, so we have to take a wee gamble now and then," he said.

"Niall will be a wee gamble but hopefully we have enough here who can bring him along and make him a better player.

"Milan will be joining today but he's a project. He's just a young man who we feel has assets that we can develop and, if we can add to them, we feel he can be a good player.

"But again, it's back to the Niall situation — it's a gamble."

Strachan confirmed his interest in Dundee United goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska, who has refused to sign a new contract with the Tannadice club. He said: "He will be Dundee United's player until the end of the season, I would imagine. We have had contact with the player, we are allowed to do that. Where it goes from there, I don't know."

Strachan then admitted he could not afford West Ham striker Craig Bellamy, who has been continually linked with a return to Parkhead.

The Wales international, who had a loan spell at Celtic in the 2004-'05 season, doubted the Scottish champions' ability to stump up his transfer fee or wages and Strachan concurred.

"I looked at a website to see what he was saying and I agree with him," Strachan said. "He was talking about his wages and transfer fee.

"I am huge fan of Craig Bellamy, I bought him (for Coventry), but I agree with what he says, it would be near impossible. It's a nice dream but I don't think that will happen."

Strachan went on to welcome the decision by all 12 Scottish Premier League managers not to publicly criticise referees.

"They (bad decisions) have happened to us this season and we have managed to do it," Strachan said. "If you look back at the Champions League, there was big decisions there and we had to deal with it."

Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Darcheville yesterday became the first casualty of Rangers' bid to trim their squad when he was given permission to join Valenciennes. The 33-year-old striker held talks with the French side this week and is set to join them as soon as the transfer window opens on January 1st.