Andy Walker: Aberdeen only realistic challengers to Celtic

Sky Sports' Andy Walker believes any realistic challenge to Celtic's quest for a fifth successive Scottish Premiership title will come from Aberdeen this season.

Derek McInnes' side and newly-promoted Hearts have enjoyed a 100 per cent start to the campaign, while the champions have already shipped two points following last week's 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock.

Hearts, who strolled through the Championship last season, have chalked up four successive victories on their return to the top flight but Walker believes the Dons, who have won three from three, have more strength in depth to handle a long season.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, the former Celtic and Scotland striker said: "I think Aberdeen have got a wee bit more intensity about them this season.

"They have already played some European games in pre-season which has got them up to a good level and I think over the course of the season their bench is a lot stronger that what Hearts have. I think Derek McInnes has put together a really good squad... and I think they will again pose the biggest threat to Celtic.

"I saw them at the weekend at Fir Park against Motherwell and it was more comfortable than the 2-1 scoreline suggested. But I think it will be a tall order for them to emulate what they did last season as you're asking them to again pick up 75 points and Adam Rooney to score another 30 goals.

I think Aberdeen have got a wee bit more intensity about them this season... I think they will again pose the biggest threat to Celtic.

"But having two unbeaten teams at the top of the table has given the game in Scotland a boost. Hearts are a top-flight club the way they go about their business. They were absolutely magnificent last season, incredibly consistent and they got another win at a difficult venue at the weekend away to Ross County.

"They have a lot of options from middle to front in terms of scoring goals and I think in Robbie Neilson they have a manager who is insisting on a brand of football that is very pleasing to the Hearts supporters and I think alongside Aberdeen they just make the level of competition in the Premiership that bit better."

Despite the undoubted challenge the pair will pose throughout the campaign, Walker is convinced they will fall short of the champions come the end of May.

"If you remember at the beginning of last season Celtic were losing to Hamilton, losing to Inverness and were dropping other silly points and I just can't see that happening too often this season." 

But Walker is convinced Celtic's five-in-a-row attempt will have to be carried out without the services of defender Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman has been a long-term target of Southampton and Walker believes his future lies in the Premier League, even if Celtic account for Malmo over two legs and secure qualification for the group stages of the Champions League.

"I think the likelihood is that he will go," he said. "Virgil van Dijk has shown to be a terrific player for Celtic over the past two seasons but by all accounts he just wants to test himself against the very best and that is what you get in the Premier League in England. 

"As Celtic have shown in the last few years they are perfectly prepared to do business when the price is right."

This weekend, Rangers take on Hibernian - live on Sky Sports - and Walker feels the winners of the Ibrox clash will put down a marker for the remainder of the season.

Rangers sit atop the Championship table after winning their opening two games while Hibernian have already shipped three points following an opening-day defeat at Dumbarton.

The summer transfer saga of Scott Allan will have added extra spice to the fixture but Walker says the history between the sides negates any requirement for off-field influences.

"I think it puts an added edge onto the game, but having played for Hibs for a short time during my career I can assure you there is no love lost between the sides at any time in any season," he said.

"I think there is a big responsibility, a big onus and a big pressure on Hibs to handle it as they played Rangers earlier in the season and lost six at home and it's up to Alan Stubbs now to come up with a game plan as he did last season when he got some good results at Ibrox.

"So I think over the course of the season Hibs will be the only serious challengers to Rangers and it will be interesting to see how close it is on Sunday. It's going to be a sell-out and I think it will be a fabulous occasion and interesting to see who handles it best.

"I expect Rangers to be a lot more consistent this season and I think Sunday will tell us a lot about the way the league is going to shape up as Hibs have already lost on the opening weekend and they have still to show their supporters that they can get the consistency they will need to push Rangers all the way.

"Mark Warburton has brought in different players and there is a hunger and a energy about these Rangers players that the supporters are buying into. 

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"I think the goal for them is to try and do what Hearts did last season in the same league and that is to be incredibly consistent and score a lot of goals away from home.

"They are moving the ball a lot quicker than they were last season and there is a pattern to their play and to their style now which the fans are enjoying watching."