PETER GRANT insists it will be Martin O’Neill’s greatest title achievement if he manages to guide Celtic to their fifth successive crown.
The interim manager lifted three championships in his first five years at Parkhead after arriving in June 2000.
He lost out on goal difference one year and also by a solitary point on the other occasion.
With seven games to go this time out, the champions are five points behind Hearts and two adrift of Danny Rohl’s Ibrox outfit as the pressure mounts and the finishing line comes into focus.
The 74-year-old Irishman, in his second period in caretaker charge during a turbulent campaign, takes his side to face Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday. They faltered badly the last time they were on Tayside and fired blanks as they slumped dismally to a 2-0 loss at Tannadice a couple of weekends ago.
FRONTLINE PUZZLER…Martin O’Neill ponders the lack of Celtic goals.
Grant refuses to write off his former club and believes “if there is one man who is capable, then it’s Martin O’Neill.”
But the former Hoops hero is wondering where the goals are going to come from with a current frontline that lacks firepower.
Last season’s 33-goal top scorer Daizen Maeda has netted only eight this term while injury-prone Kelechi Iheanacho has claimed three, the last coming in a 3-2 home win over Motherwell on October 5.
On-loan double-act Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu have chipped in with three – the towering Borussia Monchengladbach hitman with a double and a single from the Austrian international.
The 14-goal tally of four frontmen is eclipsed by the 19 strikes collected by midfielder Benjamin Nygren in his debut season at the champions.
Grant contrasted today’s situation with O’Neill’s early years at Celtic and said: “In Martin’s first spell, you look at Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson.
“Now you look at Celtic and they’ve not got a striker just now. That’s not being disrespectful, that’s a fact.
“The boys who have come in have either not been playing games or we don’t have a centre-forward. Celtic ALWAYS had centre-forwards.
“You look at Benjamin Nygren. If he had scored against Dundee United then he’d be on 20 goals.
“There isn’t anybody on 10 goals after that. It’s incredible.
“To win games of football you need strikers.”
THOSE WERE THE DAYS…Henrik Larsson congratulates Chris Sutton after another Celtic goal. John Hartson completed the Hoops hat-trick of legendary frontmen.
Reacting to comments from disgruntled fans that the team lacked fighting spirit in the Tannadice setback, Grant, speaking to Go Radio, continued: “You’ve got to respond to things that go against you.
“Whether that’s the pitch or referee decisions, you’ve got to keep fighting until the end.
“I would never say players give up in any shape of form, I don’t think they have that type of character.
“You’ve got a support there that you owe it to every time you pull on the shirt.
“I don’t think anyone downed tools. I just think they were poor in the second-half.”
The former Scotland international midfielder added: “Martin O’Neill has been unbelievable and this will be his best title if he wins it.
“If there is one man who is capable, then it’s Martin O’Neill.”
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