Hearts have 'golden question' to answer on title chances as former coach certain over January transfer plans
The coach was previously at Hearts and has been talking over their silverware credentials.
A former Hearts coach says sustainability will be needed if they are to mount a prolonged title challenge - as a January prediction is aired.
Former Scotland international Lee McCulloch became an assistant first team coach at Tynecastle after Robbie Neilson's return as manager in 2020. He left Hearts in April 2023, following the departure of Robbie Neilson, but has kept up to speed with events in Gorgie where current head coach Derek McInnes has the club nine points clear at the top of the Premiership.
Celtic are in second spot while Rangers are fourth and 14 points off Hearts, amid changes of management at both sides of the Old Firm divide. Investor Tony Bloom has been talking up the club’s ability to split the Glasgow pair and whether or not they can maintain their title credentials is a paramount questions on McCulloch’s mind.
Lee McCulloch on Hearts title chances
He believes the winter months is when hype can be fully bought into, and with winger Islam Chesnokov already signed up for the second half of the season, the former coach reckons more recruits will be made by Hearts in January. McCulloch told Gambling.com on whether will continue their title challenge over the whole season: “That’s the golden question.
“It's all set up for them [Hearts] to mount a challenge because they're not in Europe. They're playing one game a week. Rangers and Celtic are in European competition as it stands, which brings more games, injuries and suspensions.
“Hearts are in a really good place just now. They'll make signings again in January. It is absolutely too early to tell [if Hearts can sustain their title challenge over the whole season]. This conversation or question can be taken seriously at the end of January or start of February. If they can sustain it until that period of time, then I don't see why not.”
Where will Rangers offer threat to Hearts?
McCulloch has also warned Hearts that alongside Celtic, the Jambos will face a sustained threat from another of his former clubs under new head coach Danny Rohl, Rangers. He added: “He (Danny Rohl) has lifted the squad and we look more solid. He'll be disappointed by the semi-final, but in the grand scheme of things, this is the first time this season we've looked capable and we've looked solid.
“He’s had a couple of good results. It’s still super early days - but he has made a difference in the short spell he's been here. The difference he [Danny Rohl] has made in the short space of time since he’s come in. He's not had a transfer window yet. He’s not had a couple of transfer windows, which is probably more important. How quickly he's turned around the mentality of the squad speaks for itself. He's going to be the one [Rangers manager] for the longer term.
“John Souttar has been a rock when he's been fit. He probably gets criticised more than anybody else, but he always steps up. The other one, where there was a bit of controversy at the start season, would be Nicolas Raskin. He's changed his game slightly. He's got the confidence to go away and play in a really good Belgian [national] team. They would be the players I would pick out.”