Michael Stewart makes his feelings clear on title race, with blunt Celtic, Hearts and Rangers verdict

Add as preferred source on Google

Hearts will be sitting at the top of the Premiership table at Christmas.

At the start of the campaign, there would have been a fair proportion of Celtic supporters who would have dismissed Hearts’ title challenge.

But as the Premiership heads towards the halfway stage, and Derek McInnes’ side continue to pick up the big wins, the mood and feeling is changing in Glasgow.

On Saturday, it’s the small matter of the Edinburgh derby between Hibernian and Hearts, and Michael Stewart thinks it’s going to play a huge part in who lifts Scottish football’s main crown.

• READ MORE: Pat Bonner tells Celtic, Hearts and Rangers he’s ‘not dismissing’ a fourth ‘incredible’ title contender

Who will win the Scottish Premiership title?

Speaking on Premier Sports, Stewart stated that Hearts will be ‘well in the hunt’ to become champions of Scotland if they beat their bitter rivals over the weekend.

The former midfielder has dismissed Rangers from the title race, as well as third-placed Motherwell, and thinks the race is now between Celtic and Hearts.

“I genuinely believe if Hearts beat Hibs on Saturday, I think, without doubt, they are well in the hunt to go and win the league,” said Stewart.

“Rangers, at this moment in time, it’s too big a gap for them to come back into it. Motherwell, I think, will have a pivotal role to play in shaping where the title will go, but I don’t think they are going to be in the title race.

“So, then you are saying Celtic or Hearts. The way Celtic are, at the moment, I am not sure you could hang your hat on them to say that definitively they are going to go on a run that will enable them to potentially win it.

“I think they might. But you can’t say definitely.”

Would Hearts be title challengers without ‘the troubles’ in Glasgow?

Celtic’s troubles have been there to see; even up until the weekend, there were suggestions that Wilfried Nancy could be sacked.

But Stewart wanted to point out, even if you took away the ‘troubles’ in Glasgow, he still feels Hearts are producing a title-worthy campaign so far.

“Clearly, there is going to be attention on the troubles that the clubs in Glasgow are suffering,” added Stewart.

“But Hearts are sitting top of the table, at the moment, on 41 points. At the weekend, it will be the halfway point. 19 games, and that would be 44 points.

“That’s not a million miles away if you are to double it, 88 points at the end of the season. It’s not a million miles away from where a title-winning side would be.

“This isn’t just because Celtic and Rangers have been dropping points. They are there because they have been very good. Even if Rangers and Celtic were performing as their fans would expect, Hearts would still be right in the hunt here.”