Celtic icon Chris Sutton hopes his former team are primed and ready ahead of a manic run of fixtures headlined by a dream double against Rangers and Real Madrid.
It's all systems go for Ange Postecoglou's Premiership champions as they face a manic schedule from now until the World Cup kicking off in November. It's been a season with a difference, so far, with the usual nerve-shredding qualifiers gone and a seat at European football's top table pre-booked.
Ross County are up next in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup, however, Saturday's crunch clash with title rivals Rangers is looming large. And Sutton senses his former team will have to be at their best to land a telling blow on Gio van Bronckhorst's Europa League finalists. The Record Sport pundit expects a corker in Glasgow's east end as the duo face off in a High Noon showdown.
Speaking on BBC's The Monday Night Club, the Parkhead icon said: "In terms of the game on Saturday, it is so difficult to call because Rangers have players who can hurt Celtic. I don't think Ryan Kent, I think he's an outstanding player, he is such a handful, but if you look at his numbers, goals and assists, they are not there. Every time I watch him and when Celtic play them, he is the one I fear most from Celtic's point of view."
Celtic have secured five consecutive league wins to start the season, however, Sutton hopes Postecoglou's side are fully prepared for the mammoth challenges awaiting them in the coming weeks. And the man who spearheaded a string of iconic European nights believes his old team can give Champions League holders Real Madrid a fright next week.
He added: "Celtic have started the season absolutely flying, they have had some pretty gentle fixtures, they haven't had the stress of Champions League qualifiers, which has helped in many respects. i just hope, and this might sound a bit strange, I just hope they are ready, now, for the challenges ahead and the three games-a-week. Rangers on Saturday, Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
"They are big games, listen, it's not impossible Celtic rock up on Tuesday night and beat Real Madrid, They are that sort of team, they can give anybody a bloody nose."
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