MARK WILSON has had surgery on a knee injury and is out of action for the next six weeks.

It was feared the Celtic full-back had ligament damage, which would have finished his season.

But, after being reassured it was only a cartilage which needed repaired, he has now set himself the target of returning well ahead of the Champions League first round tie against AC Milan on February 20.

Wilson missed four Group Stage games after breaking a metatarsal in the opening European match at Old Trafford.

He only returned for the final group game in Copenhagen at the start of this month.

Now his injury jinx has struck again, opening the door for veteran Paul Telfer once more to step into the right back berth.

Telfer has revealed he will be leaving Parkhead when his contract runs out this season, so this latest setback for Wilson has increased pressure on manager Gordon Strachan to recruit defenders.

He had set his sights on adding the experience and leadership qualities of Steven Pressley.

But, after a meeting between the former Hearts star's legal advisor, Blair Morgan, and Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, the fear is that the terms on offer might prevent Pressley from being reunited with Strachan, who he played alongside at Coventry a decade ago.

Struggling Premiership side Charlton - desperate to halt their slide into the English Championship - have made a significant pitch for the 33-year-old, and this could be enough to lure him south, despite the fact his wife has just presented him with their second child.

Maurice Johnston has also revealed he is interested in offering Pressley the chance to play for the club he now manages, Toronto FC.

But this is a real long shot in the race to sign the man released by Vladimir Romanov two weeks ago.

Strachan confirmed he has several irons in the fire, but concedes that who comes in might depend to a great deal on who goes out in the January window, with Stephen Pearson and Alan Thompson - also on Toronto's radar - the Bhoys appearing most likely.

The manager said: "It's a domino effect. If someone goes, someone else might come in.

"Vice versa, if someone comes in, someone else might want to go. So it's a tricky period.

"But I've not been knocking on Peter Lawwell's door to get this one signed or that one signed.

"We have targets, and plenty of them. But you never know which target you have to go after. Circumstances dictate that."

Strachan is aware of interest in his keeper, Artur Boruc, with Ruud Gullit today reporting that Barcelona have joined Arsenal and Manchester United in considering making a big-money move for the Pole.

But Strachan has no intention of allowing the 26-year-old - who is under contract until 2009 - to leave. And, as he confirms in SportTimes today, Boruc is happy to remain with the SPL champions.

Hoping to join him there is Romanian 17-year-old midfielder Dumitru Copil, who claimed today that his trial last month was so successful he has now been offered a £250,000 move to Celtic in the New Year.