Title still in Celtic's hands, says former skipper Brown

Former captain Scott Brown reckons Celtic still have the edge in the Scottish Premiership race since they host leaders Hearts on the final day.

The defending champions trail the Edinburgh side by three points and their goal difference is five inferior, with just three games remaining.

But Brown, who spent 14 years at Celtic Park between 2007 and 2021, said his old team have to believe they can make it a meaningful last-day shootout for the title.

"It's going to be very tight," the 40-year-old told Sky Sports. "Hearts have been the team that everyone thought eventually would die a death, if I'm honest.

"But Derek (McInnes) has done a fantastic job of maintaining their levels. They beat Rangers (on Monday) and, watching the first half, I thought, 'it could be two or three (to Rangers)', but he changed it.

"He's done a great job and nobody probably thought they would have been able to continue that.

"But I still think it's in the Celtic lads' hands because if they can go and beat Rangers at the weekend, they've got Motherwell away, then the last game is Hearts at home.

"I'm going along to that one so I'll either see Derek lifting a trophy – which I'll congratulate him on eventually – or it'll be a fantastic day for Celtic and all the fans. It'd be incredible scenes if they can go and get another trophy."

Martin O'Neill has had two spells in charge of Celtic this season, picking up the pieces following the departures of Brendan Rodgers in October and Wilfried Nancy in January.

"If he was to go and win the title, I think there'd be a statue getting built right outside the stadium for him because he's done some fantastic things," ex-Ayr United boss Brown said of the 74-year-old.

"Martin seems to have the players playing as well as they possibly can, pressing high up the park, getting after teams.

"If he was there the whole time (throughout the season), he would probably have just cruised through it.

"But he comes in, he helps out and he's a Celtic man, he wants to do the best for Celtic and that's why all the fans love him."