Rangers legend Kris Boyd has predicted Celtic will win the league ahead of Hearts, but only if Martin O'Neill's side beat Motherwell on Wednesday. (Scottish Sun), external
Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNSAuston Trusty credited an "insane" atmosphere for Celtic's crucial derby win over Rangers on Sunday.
Martin O'Neill's side came from a goal down to win 3-1 and move to within a point of Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
And the American defender believes their current momentum could result in a "magical" end to the season.
"Obviously Champions League nights here are incredible, but that atmosphere was insane. It was so insane," Trusty said.
"It really helped us. It's everything. It's everything we need.
"We need to do our part, but as an organisation, as a club, everyone's playing a part – and the fans, definitely, truly played a part in this win. This is the best atmosphere I've ever played in.
"It makes a big difference. The big draw with Celtic is the history and the club itself. But, obviously, the fanbase too. Knowing that 60,000 people are going to be cheering you on.
"The atmosphere's just insane. It really does play a big part. Drawing players in but also when you're actually here playing the games – it's like 'wow, this is incredible'. Playing Celtic versus Rangers like this, it's just incredible."
Celtic trailed Hearts by six points when Martin O'Neill returned for a second interim spell of the season in January.
They stuttered before the international break, but five straight wins have put them within touching distance of the Tynecastle side, who they host on the final day of the league season.
"I don't think we've ever stopped believing," Trusty said. "We've always had the mindset that it's been within our grasp. But with the momentum we have now, I would say it can be really magical."
Image source, SNSHearts' Claudio Braga could win an awards double after he was shortlisted for the Scottish Football Writers' Association player of the year award.
The Portuguese forward is nominated alongside teammate Lawrence Shankland and Motherwell duo Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise.
The manager of the year award could also go to Tynecastle or Fir Park, with Derek McInnes and Jens Berthel Askou both nominated.
Falkirk boss John McGlynn and Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill are also on the shortlist.
Four Scottish players are in the running for young player of the year - Falkirk striker Barney Stewart, Kilmarnock's on-loan Rangers winger Findlay Curtis, Dundee defender Luke Graham and Dunfermline's Andrew Tod.
The winners will be announced on Sunday, 17 May.
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Kieran O'Hara - Dundee
A clean sheet and a penalty save as Dundee safeguarded their Premiership status.
Findlay Curtis - Kilmarnock
A star showing from Curtis with two huge goals over fellow relegation rivals St Mirren.
Stephen O'Donnell - Motherwell
What a block to deny Lawrence Shankland. Gave everything for the Motherwell cause.
Kieran Tierney - Celtic
There feels like there is so much more impetus about Celtic ever since the international break. Seasoned campaigners like Tierney have really come to the fore as Celtic make their final charge to defend their title. An assist for Maeda's first goal.
Jordan Obita - Hibernian
On the scoresheet in what was a big away win at the Falkirk Stadium.
Josh Campbell - Hibernian
Two well taken goals on the way to a big result which keeps alive Hibs hopes of catching Motherwell.
Callum McGregor - Celtic
A captain's performance as the Celtic leader marshalled his teammates to great effect throughout a potentially pivotal Old Firm victory.
Cam Congreve - Dundee
Another goal for the consistently excellent Welsh international on loan from Swansea.
Toyosi Olusanya - Aberdeen
Finally, his first goal for Aberdeen. Big moment for the former St Mirren man.
Lawrence Shankland - Hearts
Denied by O'Donnell, but you don't keep the Hearts captain down for long. When the next chance came along there was never any doubt Shankland would find the net. Could be a huge goal.
Daizen Maeda - Celtic
In a decidedly mixed season, Maeda was outstanding in the Old Firm derby. Time seemed to stand still as his stupendous overhead kick looped into the net behind Jack Butland. Maeda never stood still throughout this match, his energy levels saw him chase down Rangers players throughout. Two goals on the day and six goals in four games. Coming to the boil at just the right time.
Image source, SNSDarren O'Dea believes Celtic are peaking at the perfect time as they attempt to reel in Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The defending champions trail the Tynecastle outfit by one point with two matches to play after they came from behind to beat Rangers 3-1 on Sunday.
They host Hearts on the final day of the season, but first travel to Motherwell on Wednesday.
Celtic have turned to Martin O'Neill as interim manager twice this season after Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy left and the veteran Northern Irishman has navigated difficulties both on and off the pitch.
"Celtic have been criticised for their performances and recruitment but something that has gone under the radar is the really big players missing through injury," O'Dea said, talking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"Carter-Vickers, Jota and the two that have come back in – Johnston and Engels.
"Some players need time to get back up to speed, but you can see how they have instantly impacted the team.
"I haven't felt fully confident with Celtic all season because the performance levels haven't been there. The one thing you can never question is their mentality and their ability to get things done.
"But the performance against Rangers was a really good level, especially after going behind early.
"And now there is a good synergy with the team and the crowd at Celtic Park again.
"When you start adding these ingredients, it's starting to come together at exactly the right time.
"If they can get to that last game against Hearts and make it essentially a final, I fully expect Celtic to go and win. Even if it goes to goal difference, I can see them overcoming that, winning two or three nil."
This content isn't available anymore.
There was an error
We asked for your thoughts after Celtic came from behind to beat Rangers and boost their title hopes.
Here's what some of you had to say:
David: Just WOW, simple as that. I thought the football match was a great advert for Scottish football. IF we can get the three points on Wednesday then I truly believe we will retain the league title, but Motherwell be be a tough one. Keep the faith.
Sinclair: Where did that performance come from? Dominant and dangerous apart from the first 15 minutes or so. Fir Park is a massive massive game now, hopefully we can take Sunday into Wednesday. No longer needing a snooker, just need to clear the table to win. Truthfully, it's ill-deserved but we will take it!
John: Probably the best performance from Celtic in this tumultuous season. Topped off with a piece of individual brilliance - a goal Celtic fans will play back over and over for years to come. But there are still two massive games to go. A win against Motherwell will take everything through to the final match of the season and a winner-takes-all game that hasn't been seen in a generation. Exciting days ahead.
Thomas: Finally, this Celtic team behave like the champions they are. The goal from Daizen Maeda is why people go to football matches, simply unforgettable.
Jimmy: Martin O'Neill's first Old Firm had Larsson's chip. His last (probably) had Maeda's overhead kick. What a way to begin and end.
John: A great victory. Still grinding the results out. It was a better display today. Two more cup finals and this would be the best league win in the past decade for Celtic. It's not going to be easy but still got a chance. Positive thinking from all the Celtic fans!
Image source, SNSHearts are planning to hold talks with Birmingham City over a permanent move for on-loan midfielder Marc Leonard as they aim to beat Celtic to a deal for the 24-year-old. (Football Insider), external
Celtic have opened talks to sign forward Aaron Malouda from Azerbaijani outfit Sabah, with Sampdoria also keen on the 20-year-old Frenchman. (L'Equipe - in French), external
Robbie Keane hints at staying with Ferencvaros in Hungary next season amid ongoing links with the Celtic manager's job. (Scottish Sun), external
Celtic could be set to miss out on signing Soufiane El-Faouzi after Sunderland joined the race to sign the 23-year-old Schalke midfielder. (Football Insider), external
A sensational Daizen Maeda overhead kick helped propel Celtic within a point of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, as a compelling Old Firm derby ended with Rangers condemned to a third-place finish.
Image source, SNSCeltic interim manager Martin O'Neill is delighted to win but admits they still have "two mountains to climb" in their bid to retain the Scottish title.
"It was a big win for us and I thought we were terrific in the second half, coming from behind against big rivals," he tells BBC Scotland.
"I couldn't be more delighted with the team and certain individuals were magnificent.
"The captain was magnificent and Daizen [Maeda] has pulled it through again.
"Rangers came to play and did well, but it was the manner we fought back."
Asked about what it means for the title race, he adds: "The midweek game is going to be extremely difficult - Motherwell are a fine footballing team.
"But the game at Dundee United when we questioned ourselves, the team have come roaring back The whole effort from the team has been terrific.
"We might fall short at the end of it all, who knows? But it's been a fabulous effort and we are roared on here by a raucous crowd who I believe have carried us through a few times."
Republic of Ireland centre-half Liam Scales has reaffirmed his commitment to Celtic and revealed he has never shown a desire to leave despite interest from other clubs in the 27-year-old. (The Scotsman), external
Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSCeltic defender Liam Scales is refusing to discount Rangers from the Scottish Premiership title race before Sunday's meeting of the two sides.
The defending champions started the weekend three points below leaders Hearts and four points above Rangers.
"I don't think they'll see themselves out of the title race, because they're not," said Republic of Ireland international Scales, 27. "They can still win the league.
"I don't see it being much different for them. It's obviously a must-win for them in terms of winning the league. So, they're probably going to give everything they have to win the game.
"I don't think you need any more motivation than this rivalry that we have as well. We're expecting them to be at their very best and we want to match and go beyond that."
Hearts can extend their lead by winning at Motherwell on Saturday evening before Sunday's match at Celtic Park.
"I find whenever I do watch it, it never goes well," Scales explained. "So, I'll probably just leave it off, watch something else and then check the result after.
"You can't control it and you'll end up either getting frustrated or getting your mind taken off what's actually important to us, which is the game on Sunday."
And he added of Celtic's recent form: "We've got things right tactically. Off the ball we've been a lot better, pressing we've been a lot better. We've actually scored goals from pressing. Teams are having less joy against us with the ball. That's played a big part in it.
"Obviously it's crunch time now as well. We know what's at stake and that's probably pushing us an extra bit harder to get the results we need.
"You go into games all the time wanting to win them and that is generally the case at Celtic where there isn't room for error because you're expected to win all your games. But now everything's must-win. So, that does play a part as well."
Image source, SNSCallum Osmand last featured for Celtic in November
Celtic forward Callum Osmand, 20, who scored against Rangers earlier this season, could make the bench against the Ibrox side on Sunday after an extended period out injured. (Sun), external
Image source, SNSCeltic forward Daizen Maeda has shaken off a foot knock. Callum Osmand is working his way back to match fitness following hamstring surgery.
Jota (knee), Colby Donovan (hamstring), Julian Araujo (thigh), Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) and Tomas Cvancara (groin) remain out, with the latter out for the rest of the season.
Gers defender John Souttar missed Monday's game against Hearts with a knock. Danny Rohl will almost certainly makes changes to his side.
Image source, SNSCeltic's on-loan Borussia Monchengladbach forward Tomas Cvancara says his "season is over".
The Czech Republic international, 25, has not featured since the 11 April Scottish Premiership win over St Mirren. He scored twice in 13 appearances for Martin O'Neill's side after joining in January.
He said on Instagram: "This season is over for me. Next week I'll undergo surgery after tearing my adductor.
"Honestly, this is not how I imagined my season at Celtic coming to an end, and not the way I wanted it to finish. But despite everything, I'm truly grateful that I had the chance to be part of this club, this team and these moments.
"I know there weren't as many individual moments as I wanted, but whenever I stepped on the pitch, I always tried to help the team and give everything for the badge.
"And to all the fans.. THANK YOU".
Celtic trail Premiership leaders Hearts by three points with three games left and host Rangers on Sunday (12:00 BST) before visiting Motherwell on Wednesday then taking on Hearts at Celtic Park next Saturday.
Image source, SNSCeltic knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup on penalties in the sides' most recent meeting
Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill believes the most recent international break allowed his side to reset as they attempt to retain their Scottish Premiership title.
O'Neill's side lost 2-0 at Dundee United before the break, but have since won four league matches on the spin.
They trail leaders Hearts by three points with three matches to play, including hosting the Tynecastle outfit on the final day.
Hearts travel to Motherwell on Saturday (20:00 BST) before Celtic host rivals Rangers on Sunday (12:00 BST).
"The players have, since [losing at] Tannadice, had some time to reflect because of the international break," O'Neill said.
"We got back to Dundee, got the late winner, and it's gone from there. We've had moments where we've had to fight through things, but we've seen it through so far.
"But Sunday is a massive test for us."
Rangers have lost both their matches since the split and their title hopes have suffered as a result.
However, O'Neill anticipates a "big reaction" from Danny Rohl's side in the derby.
"It's an Old Firm game, so I think that regardless of what the result was before that, I think there will be a strong Rangers side," he said. "But there will be a big reaction as well.
"We've got to be ready for that, but the place will be rocking on Sunday. The crowd seems to be in unison with the club at the moment, which is good news.
"And the players feed on that as well, so it will be strong."
George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSCeltic interim manager Martin O'Neill has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership derby against Rangers on Sunday.
Here are the key points from his news conference:
Influential forward Daizen Maeda is fit despite hobbling off after last weekend's win at Hibernian. O'Neill says: "He's trained a bit, he's got no reaction. He's going to be fine."
O'Neill expects Sunday to "most likely" be his final Old Firm match in charge of the club, 26 years since his first.
When asked what he will miss most about the fixture, O'Neill said: "The intensity, the atmosphere itself, both at Celtic Park and at Ibrox. It really is phenomenal. The atmosphere at Ibrox, particularly in the first game, where they scored two early on in the match, the place was really, really rocking, it compares to any atmosphere in Britain and probably in Europe and I think that could be echoed on Sunday."
The Northern Irishman says he will definitely be watching Hearts play Motherwell on Saturday evening - a win for the Tynecastle outfit would take them six points clear at the top.
After successive losses for Rangers - against Motherwell and Hearts - O'Neill refused to rule them out of the title race entirely and expects a "big reaction" from Danny Rohl's side. "It's an Old Firm game, so regardless of what the result was before that, there will be a strong Rangers side. But I think there will be a big reaction as well too. We've got to be ready for that."
Celtic have won four straight league matches since March's defeat at Dundee United and O'Neill thinks the international break that followed that game helped his side reset. "We had some time to reflect and not to be blaming anything at all, we just blamed our own performance that particular day, especially the second half where we didn't really create things. It was just like a mindset or a reset, call it what you want. We had time to reflect on it because of the international break."
O'Neill accepts this season is a different challenge given Celtic's domestic dominance in recent seasons and says the players have had to get used to the challenge from Hearts and Rangers. "It's not a position that the football club has found itself in, in recent years. Generally speaking, they've gone clear and there's been no opposition. There's been plenty of opposition this year, not just from Rangers, but obviously from Hearts. So it's a big, big change."
Rohl focused on Rangers amid Germany rumours
Danny Rohl says Rangers owe their supporters a derby win on Sunday but are not motivated by the chance to derail Celtic's title bid.
The third-place Ibrox side are set for another trophyless season after losing 2-1 at leaders Hearts on Monday night to languish seven points off the top with just three games remaining.
But they can still have a big say in the race as they visit rivals Celtic, who are three points behind Hearts.
"I think it's a special game for us," said head coach Rohl.
"The message to my players is we have a big responsibility in general for the last three games.
"I think nobody needs extra motivation to go into this game. We want to make our supporters and fans proud and that means we have to deliver.
"I think for this game you don't need motivation. For us it's about winning games and I think it's about more than just [trying to] stop someone else winning a title.
"For us it's about making our supporters proud and that means delivering a good result and hopefully three points."
Rohl has faced intense criticism from fans in the wake of back-to-back defeats that have all but ended Rangers' title bid.
The 37-year-old German, who has also been linked with a return to manage Wolfsburg in his homeland, is adamant he is staying at Ibrox and that he retains the owners' backing after talks this week.
On his conversations with the board, Rohl said: "Fully, fully committed. I feel it every day, the support.
"I feel the conversations we had. We spoke so much about what we want to change for the summer. I feel that I'm in the right place with the right people with a lot of motivation, positive energy to bring this club, not just to a one-hit wonder, back to to a consistent club who can win titles in a row.
"This is also important to understand. A one-hit wonder for us, it's nice, but what we are looking for is that you consistently play for the title. And this is my job, this is our job, and this is why I'm looking forward."
Image source, SNSMotherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou would be a "very good" choice to fill Celtic's managerial vacancy this summer, according to Robbie Neilson.
Dane Askou, 43, has transformed the Steelmen into a slick passing side this season and has the club on course for a fourth-place finish.
Former Hearts and Dundee United boss Neilson believes Celtic should move quickly in a bid to secure Askou, with the club facing a major squad rebuild.
"I think he's done a fantastic job and he'd be one of the main candidates," Neilson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"There was talk of Kieran McKenna at Ipswich but they've just been promoted, he's not leaving the Premiership in England for Celtic.
"Robbie Keane [currently at Ferencvaros], maybe. Askou in my opinion would be a very good appointment and he knows the league now.
"The biggest problem Celtic have is what direction are they going in? At the moment they don't have a head coach for next season, they don't have a head of recruitment and they don't have players lined up.
"How are you going to play? How can you recruit players if you don't know what the manager wants to do?
"So I think they need to get something sorted very, very quickly to get plans moving forward. Askou would be a really good appointment."
