Hearts boss McInnes insists ‘ruling O’Neill’s Celtic out would be foolish’

Hearts boss Derek McInnes emphatically dismissed any notion that Celtic can be ruled out of the William Hill Premiership title race.

The defending champions have been written off in some quarters since a dismal 2-0 defeat – their eighth league loss of the campaign – at Dundee United in the last game before the international break left them in third place, five points adrift of the Jambos and two behind city rivals Rangers.

Asked if he still viewed the Hoops as a threat to Hearts’ hopes of securing a first title since 1960, McInnes responded: “One hundred per cent. You wouldn’t discount a Martin O’Neill Celtic team at any juncture.

“They’re a good side, they’ve got good players and they’ve been over the course. I think they’ve got a fantastic manager.

“It was obviously a blow for them (losing at Tannadice), but there’s still a lot of football to be played and I think anybody ruling Celtic out would be foolish.”

Hearts are potentially just seven games from pulling off one of the most remarkable success stories in Scottish football history as they bid to end 40 consecutive seasons of Old Firm dominance of the topflight title.

McInnes argued that no other team in Europe is currently defying expectations in their domestic league to the same extent as the Jambos.