THERE are 10 league games to play and the countdown to the 55th championship in Celtic’s esteemed history continues against St Mirren in Paisley tomorrow evening.
The Hoops have a 13-point advantage on their nearest challengers as they zero in on their fourth successive crown and their thirteenth flag in 14 years.
It’s been a mighty effort from the Parkhead club and the Saints will be the champions’ SEVENTEENTH game in three competitions since the turn of the year.
The pressure on Celtic has been unremitting as they also chase a ninth domestic treble with a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie due against Hibs in the east end of Glasgow a week on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers’ men warmed up for the 5.30pm confrontation in Paisley with a runaway home win over Aberdeen in midweek when Daizen Maeda fired in a double to hoist his goal tally to a remarkable 25 for the campaign.
The Hoops gaffer said: “The scoreline was fantastic and when you win 5-1 and still not be overly pleased with elements of the performance, it shows you the standard that we demand.
“The whole point was to get to this stage of the season in the best place we possibly could.
“The players have set a top standard. It’s been relentless for three-and-a-half months and they’ve been absolutely magnificent.
“I can’t speak highly enough of them, but we’ve still got a big job to do.
“We have the advantage in the league, but, for me, it doesn’t mean anything. We have to go in to every game to win and perform at the highest level we can.”
Jude Bonnar, 19, was introduced for his debut for a cameo role against the Dons and Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I worked for 15 years in youth development, so I like to think I know it quite well.
“At every club I’ve been at, I’ve always played young players and put them in.
“The path in to any first team is not meant to be easy. You have to earn the right to come in.
“It’s a nice reward for Jude. He’s done very well with the second team, but not only that, he’s working very hard which I notice and I see.
“He’s technically very good in the game. I like my young players to have the personality to come in to the arena and play for Celtic and he showed all that.
“So, it should give him that bit of motivation to push on.”
The Hoops have already beaten tomorrow’s opponents twice by a 3-0 scoreline home and away this time out, but Rodgers anticipates another keenly-contested confrontation against Stephen Robinson’s side who beat Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox last weekend to help eject Philippe Clement from the Govan hot seat.
The first victory came on the team’s travels in August and Rodgers reflected: “We were very good and you have to be, because Stephen is an outstanding coach and manager.
“His teams are very clear in how they play and they understand their roles. They make it really difficult for you.
“They’re very co-ordinated when they don’t have the ball and when they do, they play a direct game. It really challenges you.”
The Irishman added: “In the game earlier in the season, I felt we managed that aspect of it really well.
“Our running was hard, we counter-pressed the game well and that gave us a great foundation to play our football.”
Some of the same tomorrow evening will be welcome.
