Mark Warburton’s Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers are seven points behind Celtic.
Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has told STV that he would gladly take the Scottish Premiership title now, but still expects a challenge from Aberdeen and Hearts.
Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic side have been superb so far this season after winning six of their seven games in Scotland’s top flight, and drawing the other one.
The Bhoys, who have played one game less than their competitors, are four points clear of Aberdeen in second and five ahead of third-placed Hearts.
Kenny Dalglish asserted during the week that Celtic were as good as champions already, given their barnstorming start to the campaign.
And although Brown feels it was nice of Dalglish to say such a thing, the Hoops captain feels that other sides could yet have a say in where the title goes.
“There’s still a long way to go”, he told STV. “It’s very nice of Kenny saying that and we would take it just now if we could.
“But Aberdeen are going to battle all the way and so are Hearts yet again.”
Interestingly, Brown did not name Rangers as one of the sides which could threaten Celtic in what seems like he is just being realistic, given their start, but is he?
Rangers are seven points behind their Old Firm rivals, and lost 5-1 at Parkhead last month, but if Hearts – two points ahead of Mark Warburton’s side – are challengers in Brown’s mind then surely the Gers cannot be a million miles away.
Plus, Rangers lost 2-1 at Aberdeen last month but the performance showed that Warburton’s troops were probably the better side.
They may not challenge Rodgers’s troops – nobody will, on this evidence – but it seems like the Gers are more than good enough to keep pace with the likes of Aberdeen and Hearts, and they will only get better.
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