But O'Neill says he is under pressure from the board and fans to produce the results in the short-term or pay the ultimate price - and if that means buying foreign then so be it.

The Celtic boss said: "If you tell me that there's an amnesty here and it doesn't matter about winning games then I'll do it.

"If you say that it's not important to win a game for the next decade and in 2010 Scotland will have a team capable of winning the World Cup, then I'll be happy with that."

But O'Neill is quick to say that he plans to bring a number of top-quality young Scots through in the future that will boost their hopes of qualifying for the top qualifications.

In the meantime, the Irishman is looking to take Celtic to the next level after taking them to the group stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

But in years to come he wants to be in a position where he can call on his own young Scots and reap the rewards from the youth and scouting system he has installed.

O'Neill added: "The infrastructure has got to be in place for youngsters to come through.

"That's what Rangers are trying to do with their youth academy and that is what I'm trying to do.

"I'm not talking in the next 15 months, but Celtic have got to go back and bring young players through and that's what we're trying to do in the background, outside the first team.

"But I need to win games if I am to be in the job," he added.

"I can see them things taking place underneath, but if I lose three or four matches on the trot the last thing I would want to say is that there are 15 blinding 15-year-olds.

"I have to consider what's best for the 60,000 fans and what they would want here and that's to win football matches.

"You only have to look at the top sides playing down in England and they sign players because they want to win trophies and they don't have players coming through, but these things take time.

"That eventually is going to be the most essential ingredient for this football club and hopefully them lads will be Scottish.

O'Neill has also jumped to the defence of under-fire Scotland coach Craig Brown.

O'Neill said: "I have first of all enormous respect for Craig Brown and his record is excellent.

"The thing about international matches is that you can't go into the transfer market at the drop of a hat.

"It's also hard when some of your best players are missing and Barry Ferguson was out for a couple of matches.

"You would want your best possible players for the important international matches."