Considering he has said all along that merely being in touch at this stage would be a measurement of improvement, after Celtic's latest victory it was unsurprising to hear Martin O'Neill express some ambivalence about the winter break in Scotland's Premier League.

For not only do Celtic possess a nine-point lead over second-placed Hibernian, they also have momentum and would not be particularly bothered if they had to keep playing during the next four weeks. Florida has its attractions, but . . .

"Yesterday, selfishly, I would have asked for the break," O'Neill said, "now, maybe, well. It's just a question of picking yourself up for it. The break's there and I suppose there are a number in the dressing-room who would prefer to go on with it (the league). I may even include myself in that."

But the land of dimpled chads beckons and instead of sampling the delights of Dundee, for example, Celtic will be taking on Tampa Bay Mutiny in a couple of weeks. When they return to domestic action - their next SPL action is on January 31st against St Johnstone - there will be 14 games to go, two of which are Old Firm derbies.

Rangers will need to win both if Celtic are to be overhauled, but O'Neill will be confident of a league championship if Celtic maintain the form of the second half yesterday.

"Overall we played brilliantly, absolutely brilliantly," he said. "It took us a bit of time to find a rhythm, maybe not a rhythm, a higher tempo. But once Sutton scored it alleviated any nerves. I always thought we were in reasonable command but you have to convert chances into goals. Sutton scoring was big for us and in the second half it was just exceptional.

`The break's there and I suppose there are a number in the dressingroom who would prefer to go on . . . I may even include myself in that.'

- Martin O'Neill

"Larsson is top quality. People say he is not back to his best and if there is more to come then I'll be delighted. He's really excellent although I have to say that Sutton may even have overshadowed everyone. He was excellent from start to finish. I thought he was terrific when we were still trying to get a rhythm. Hopefully Henrik and Sutton can stay fit."

He does not hang around at post-match press conferences, O'Neill, and he was soon off having fudged answers about the state of Celtic's league advantage. He indicated, though, that he will be busy sorting out some contractual situations concerning Lubo Moravcik, Tommy Johnson and Ramon Vega. So disdained in England, Celtic have not conceded a goal in Vega's four matches at the club. Yet another strange, inspired O'Neill signing.