Scottish Football Storm: Celtic Turmoil Meets Premiership Battles –…

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Clyde, Kilmarnock and Motherwell footballer Pat Nevin has given his assessment on the Scottish Premiership title race and argues that everything needs to go right for Hearts if they're to earn a shock league success.

Nevin has also discussed Celtic's next successor to Martin O'Neill and earmarks two current National Team managers who could bring the good times back to Parkhead in Steve Clarke and his friend Roberto Martinez.

The former Scotland star has also given his honest thoughts on whether Jesse Lingard and Calum Wilson could be successes if they made the move to the Scottish Premiership.

Hearts Need Everything To Go Right!

Going out of the cup, most of the time, is a brilliant excuse for the manager and the players, and it's rubbish most of the time. But not in this case. Hearts , to win the league, will need everything. If they could have nothing else concerning them at all, no Europe, none of that sort of stuff, that would be the best thing that could happen to them.

It would be extraordinary if they could win this league. Celtic and Rangers have got a gap to make up just now, but Celtic and Rangers will both strengthen. They'll bring players in in the next week or two, but also they both look settled in their management again. So they're going to be stronger. Hearts are going to have to be stronger as well.

Who Will Win The 25/26 Scottish Premiership?

Hearts

Celtic

Rangers

Other

I've played it myself when I've been in competitions. I remember going all the way to the semi-finals of the League Cup . I've been in the semi-finals of the League Cup twice. Both times it destroyed us, destroyed our seasons. Because you get all the way (and this was England at the time), got all the way to the semi-final.

It's a battle, it's a fight, it's a lot of games. And then you lose the semi-final after two legs, after extra time, and we were psychologically wrecked for about a month. So, oddly, if you're going to make any impression on Celtic and Rangers , you need to concentrate on one thing. I think it could be positive.”

7/4

● LIVE ODDS Hearts Outright Winner (In Play)

Assessing The Title Race

It could change with one or two little things. I think we won't know the answer for two weeks yet. My instinct tells me it’s whoever he buys well. Celtic are missing a number of really important players. Their main centre-half, Cameron Carter-Vickers , has been out for quite some time. Jota , who is absolutely their most creative and best attacking player, has been out all season.

These are big things. If both of them were playing right now, I’d just say Celtic . Even with a 6-point gap, I'd comfortably say Celtic . I can't say that right now. I don't think any Celtic fans are saying that right now because they're not that good at the moment. But will I say the same in two weeks' time? Martin O'Neill has allegedly got his black book out. It might be old, but he's got it.

If he makes a couple of good calls there, it could be very interesting. I don't think there's anything between them as teams. If I had to push it in one tiny little direction, probably Hearts . So 33% Rangers , 33% Celtic , 34% Hearts .

6/5

● LIVE ODDS Celtic Outright Winner (In Play)

Could Celtic Face Another Crisis?

When Brendan Rodgers left, I said to a few people, ‘Stevie Clarke at the end of the season.’ The negativity from certain Celtic fans was unbelievable. I'm thinking, you brought a guy in from the American soccer league who has never managed at this level, when Clarke has been exceptional. He's been brilliant with the Scottish national team and Kilmarnock before it; he's done an amazing job with both, as well as down south.

I think he would do a good job because experience and knowledge will win. It's good at all levels and also your links with other people. That's the big thing in sport. You've got to have good links with people downstairs and abroad. And you can bring players in, because even with Celtic and Rangers , you need to do deals, you need to sometimes get players on loan and that sort of thing.

But I just get the feeling that at this point in time, it comes down to the decisions of the board. And at the moment, every single Celtic fan's heart just sank when I said that because they don't trust their board. Whoever makes that decision, whoever the next manager is, it's not going to be easy. On the other hand, they've got tens of millions of quid in the bank. That should be enough.

They've got an amazing stadium that's filled every single week. If you can't do it there, you wonder where you can do it. It shouldn't be an easy job, but it's a very doable job for a competent manager.

Martinez To Parkhead?

He's a gigantic name, considering he's a former Belgium manager as well, and obviously did a good job with Everton . Though it was up and down there. I find it difficult to talk about Robbie with complete honesty because I'm such a good friend of his. We were friends after I brought him to Motherwell , and he played up there for us. I think he's an exceptional manager.

Being spotted around Glasgow and the West of Scotland is no surprise; he's married to a woman from Motherwell , so he spends a lot of time back there anyway. Don't read too much into that one. But if I were in a position of choosing a manager, it might sound like I just talk about my mates, because I'd talk about Steve Clarke and Robbie .

I think it would be a lovely decision. I'll tell you what, it would be intriguing for Celtic because his knowledge of European and World Football is extraordinary. He's going to know everybody. He's going to have links. He's going to be able to get players in. This is big for the likes of Celtic . The style of play he's always played has been a joy. He's just a great bloke. He's a really nice guy. So if he got the job, I would be delighted for him, and I know some Celtic fans might worry. I think he would do a very good job.

Lingard To Celtic?

The risk factor with Jesse is quite big. His form has been good, but it's the K League, and although Korean football is good and the national team is very good, it's different. It's another jump. Now, Celtic have a small history of taking players from the K League and from the J League as well, and doing well. So, they wouldn't think that that league is so far below the Scottish league.

They wouldn't think that at all because they have used players, and at the moment they've got a couple of them. But how many good seasons has Jesse had where he's been free of injury, free of difficulties? There was one cracker of a season on loan at West Ham, but they've been rare.

A lot of the seasons have been spent on the bench, not scoring many goals at all. And when you come in as a high-profile player, you're going to cost quite a few quid in the wage bracket. It's quite a big risk, I have to say. But, you know, they might consider it, maybe for half of the season, until they get Jota back, maybe that works. But I think people know it's a risk.

Would Lingard Suit Celtic?

Yes, he's a quality footballer

No, he's past his best

Would Wilson Suit Scotland?

If Callum Wilson did move north to Scotland , to Celtic or Rangers , the history is there; remember back to Ian Wright and people like that. It goes a long way back getting these centre forwards who, okay, maybe not be as mobile as he once was. I mean, he's not decrepit, but not as mobile as he once was.

If you play for Celtic or Rangers , most seasons, it's okay, you're going to get a lot of chances. You're going to have most of the ball. The ball's getting in there, you know, you're alright. You don't have to go and chase everything. This season's just a wee bit different this time, however. They're finding it harder work, Celtic and Rangers .

Hibs are a good team. Motherwell are a right good team. These aren't teams that just roll over and get their tummy tickled anymore. So it's that wee bit harder now for the centre forwards of a certain age to come to the Scottish game because there are some really well-trained and fit teams up here that don't give you a chance. Just swanning about, it's just not on anymore. Not saying that Callum would, but there'd be a work rate expected there. And I think that is the question that's been asked of him. Is it his goalscoring ability? Of course, it's not. He can do that.

In the English Premier League , you're expected to be the first line of closing down. You know, you're expected to do that sort of level of work. And basically, very few can. I mean, bloody hell, Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't do it. Could it work in Scotland for him? Yeah, I think it probably just could, but it's going to be harder than you think.