‘I’m 60/40’ – Michael Stewart makes early call on how he’s leaning in title race
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IT’s the final weekend of fixtures before the March international break – which means it’s officially time to get those early title prediction calls in.
This year, Celtic and Rangers are neck and neck in the race for the right to lift the Scottish Premiership trophy.
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Brendan Rodgers’ side leapfrogged their rivals to the top of the table today with a 3-1 win over St Johnstone.
But Rangers have a game in hand as they play Dundee tomorrow at noon, and a win would see them restore a two-point lead.
Former Hearts and Hibs star Michael Stewart was on punditry duty for the BBC today and was asked for his take on the remainder of the campaign.
The Glasgow rivals meet on April 7 at Ibrox before the league split, with the final Old Firm derby at Celtic Park later in the year.
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He gives the Light Blues the edge – but added that he actually feels the title race could have been sewn up by now if one side had addressed one key area of their squad in the transfer window.
Speaking on Sportsound, Stewart said: “For me it’s 60/40 in terms of Rangers but I wouldn’t write Celtic off.
“The key to Celtic as it has been for a large part of the season is getting their important players back.
“Cameron Carter-Vickers comes back and makes a huge difference to the defence. McGregor and Hatate in the middle of the park make a massive difference to the midfield.
“And, they need Maeda and Kyogo to be playing like they did today.
“If they are all on form and playing like that I could see them going to Ibrox and getting a result. Then they have the next [derby] at Celtic Park.
“For me it’s 60/40 and a large part of that is that you just don’t know who Celtic are going to have.”
In saying that, Stewart reckons the title race could actually have been done and dusted by now – if Rangers had signed an out-and-out striker to bolster their squad for the run-in.
Cyriel Dessers took time to earn the respect of the Ibrox faithful and isn’t quite the whipping boy he was at the start of the season.
But to say he’s completely changed fan discourse on him would be a stretch.
Fabio Silva was of course brought in during the January transfer window but he isn’t a traditional number nine and indeed, in recent weeks, he’s had to play on the wing due to injuries.
Danilo is out for the season and Kemar Roofe remains in a constant battle to prove his own fitness.
Stewart added: “If Rangers had actually got their act together and gone out and got a No9 the league could have been over.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
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