Neil Warnock tells Aberdeen how to challenge Old Firm as Ex-Rangers man sends derby warning to Celtic

Your round-up of the latest stories surrounding Hibs and Heart’s Scottish Premiership rivals.

All eyes will be on Ibrox this weekend as Rangers host Celtic in the Old Firm derby but all 12 Scottish Premiership teams have plenty to play for before the split. The majority of teams have just two fixtures left to decide their fate before the second portion of the campaign.

Hearts will be in the top-six but remain keen to finish strongly and head to St Mirren, while seventh-placed Hibs will likely need to beat St. Johnstone and Motherwell in order to climb into the top group. In the meantime, The EEN has rounded up some of the latest stories ahead of a huge weekend of football.

Warnock on Aberdeen

Neil Warnock insists a summer of smart recruitment could see Aberdeen challenge Celtic and Rangers for the title as soon as next season. The 75-year-old left Pittodrie after just 34 days in interim charge, admitting he told club chiefs it was important to get a permanent manager in as soon as possible.

"If they are going to be challenging next year they've got to be really bringing some players in that can play at that level. That was my main advice,” Warnock told The Daily Mail. "Get players in that they know can play at that level rather than data-led signings. I think it is possible to challenge those top two of Celtic and Rangers.

"But, to do it, they need four or five players who can play in the Scottish Premiership. I know it sounds silly, having been there and only had six games, but if you get some of your own signings that can do a job at that level you have a chance."

Ferguson’s Celtic warning

Former Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson is backing the winner of Sunday’s Old Firm derby to win the Scottish Premiership come May - and is increasingly confident it will be Philippe Clement’s side lifting the trophy. Victory on Sunday would send ‘Gers two points clear at the top with a game in hand ahead of the April split.

“As much as I try not to get ahead of myself or take anything for granted, I do feel very strongly that whoever wins Sunday’s Old Firm game will go on to wrap up the championship,” Ferguson told The Daily Record. “And, in all honesty, I feel even stronger that it’s going to be my old club.

“I’m fully expecting both teams to go hell for leather at one another in a full throttle, good old fashioned dust up and, for the life of me, I can’t shake the feeling that Rangers will end up coming out on top once the dust has settled.”