Pat Bonner reckons sealing the title will make Ange Postecoglou the Manager of the Year.
And the former Celtic keeper says it’d be the icing on the cake for the Aussie’s squad if they can beat Rangers to just about get it done.
Postecoglou has engineered a brilliant start to his career in Scotland.
Within a year of his arrival, the Aussie has completely rebuilt a squad which is now on course to be crowned kings.
With four games to go, Celtic are six points ahead at the top of the Premiership and on the brink of glory.
Postecoglou has already won a Premier Sports Cup, but the flag and automatic entry to the group stage of the Champions League is the ultimate Scottish football prize.
Bonner knows there are a number of candidates and contenders who have done well with their respective teams this term.
The ex-Hoops keeper nominated Arbroath’s Dick Campbell as one who has done tremendous things with his Championship outfit.
Steve Clarke, Malky Mackay and Robbie Neilson are all nominated on the SFWA list along with Campbell and the Aussie, but Bonner says that, if Postecoglou gets over the finishing line for the country’s top honour, that’ll make him the best.
He said: “Oh I think so. From where he and the team started from. If they win it.
“From where that position was at the start to where they are now is night and day.
“And playing a really good brand of football as well when they get to top form with the group that he has assembled.
“So when you put all of those things together, you would have to say he’s done a marvellous job.
“I know there are other managers out there who have done really well.
“Just look at the job that Dick Campbell has done with Arbroath, for example.
“But this is a different level in the Premiership and, as I said, when you look at where they were to where they are now, you have to give him great credit.
“To win a double, in that respect after the season before and turnaround of players and whole new squad, it’d be a remarkable job if he does it.”
Celtic need two wins out of four to be sure. Perhaps even just the one if they can defeat Rangers on their own patch on Sunday.
Given the gulf between Postecoglou’;s team and the Ibrox outfit in terms of the goal difference, win at Parkhead in the next game would make it almost impossible for them to be overhauled by their nearest challengers.
Bonner says that it doesn’t really matter where a title is won given the significance of the success.
However, he does concede that putting one foot over the finishing line against Rangers would be extra sweet for everyone connected to Celtic.
Bonner said: “You want to win the league, first and foremost. That would be a remarkable achievement in itself with the League Cup in the bag.
“To win it against Rangers would be the icing on the cake but, to be honest, at this stage, every game is important.
“Look at Dingwall, that was so important. If they had lost up there or dropped points, the nerves may have kicked in a little bit.
“To go there and do the business, I felt that was the one.
“They can afford to get a draw against Rangers and even a defeat and they would still be in a great position to win the league.
“If they had dropped any points against Ross County, it may have made Sunday’s match a slightly different ball game.
“But they will be released mentaly. They have another full week to prepare, whereas Rangers have their big game against Leipzig in midweek.
“They are at home in front of their own fans and their tempo against Ross County was good, certainly up until 75 minutes.
“The changes they made were much-more effective than they were at Hampden [against Rangers], so they are in a great position.
“You couldn’t really ask for anyone, buit, of course, the fans would love them to beat Rangers.”
Bonner was at the Global Energy Stadium four days ago to see Celtic to take their latest step towards the title with a win over Ross County.
The keeper was full of praise for the way Postecoglou’s team responded to their semi-final setback by getting right back on track and into the groove again in the flag fight to re-establish their six-point cushion at the summit.
He said: “I thought the response in Dingwall was fantastic compared to the Scottish Cup semi-final when they looked a little bit jaded and not quite at it.
“Against Ross County, the tempo was high, they played good football against a good team at home.
“They got it right physically and mentally during the week ahead of the game and that is a big step because going up there, nerves can take over.
“As I said, they had looked a little leggy against Rangers, but they clearly worked hard and credit to Ange Postecoglou and the staff to get it right and for the players to handle the situation.”
