Robbie Neilson reckons Celtic and Rangers have motored ahead of the Premiership pack fuelled by their Champions League millions. But the Hearts boss insists that doesn’t mean the Jambos can’t stall the Hoops’ title charge when they visit Tynecastle tomorrow afternoon.
Hearts sat second in the table at this stage last season - three points off Rangers and one ahead of Celtic. But a punishing schedule of domestic and European fixtures has seen them backfire this time round with 11 first team players currently in the treatment room while they have slipped 13 points off leaders Celtic after 10 games.
Neilson is hopeful of having Andy Halliday and potentially two others back fit to face the champions who are 10 points clear of third placed Hibs having played a game less. And he hopes to end a five-game winless run by shocking Ange Postecoglou’s side on the park - even if they can’t live with them in the financial stakes.
He said: “The Champions League money makes a massive difference for both Old Firm clubs. Celtic have invested heavily - £30-£40million. Obviously Rangers haven’t invested as much but they have that historical group that’s there.
“Our objective is to get as close as we can. We’ve said all along that to try and get closer to them you have to have consistent European football that brings in the revenue.
“There’s good players at Celtic. It’s a squad that’s been brought together with a lot of money spent. Our players have to believe they can challenge and be better than these players on the day.
“We did it last season when we beat Celtic 2-1. Can we do it again this year? It’s a different team and squad they have but we have to take that confidence into this game.
“Tynecastle with a full house, bright sunshine, it’s an opportunity to go there and show what we can do. Historically we’ve had a lot of good results against the Old Firm. Hopefully Saturday is another one.
“I knew with the European games and going into the World Cup break, it was always going to be difficult for us due to the amount of games and travelling.
“A lot of the teams outside the Old Firm have a great season and get into Europe, then they have a bad season. Our job is to make sure we have a good season, get into Europe and then have another good season.
“The objective was to be in third position when we got to the World Cup break. At the end of the season we want to be in a position that we get group stage football again. We’ve probably not picked up the results we wanted but we are still in that area and contention to be there.”
Peter Haring will not make tomorrow’s clash after coming off in last week’s 2-0 defeat at Aberdeen with concussion. But Neilson is hopeful on a couple of others and added: “A few of the injured lads have trained today and we will have a couple who will take part on Friday.
“Peter Haring will miss it due to concussion protocol which is disappointing. But Andy Halliday will make it and a few of the others will be in contention.
"It bolsters the squad, a bit of experience as we were running with a lot of younger boys who aren’t quite ready. Nathaniel Atkinson has rolled his ankle and he should be one of the ones towards the end of the month. He has done well for us, he has the World Cup coming up and we want to get him fit for that.”
Neilson has demanded his side be more clinical are passing up a host of chances at Pittodrie last week. He said: “If you look at the last few games we haven’t picked up the results but we are creating chances.
“At Kilmarnock we could have been two or three up, against Aberdeen it was the same before they scored. We aren’t taking them but we are creating them.
“We know we aren’t defending as well as we should, but there’s a reason for that. We have had to chop and change things through injuries, that adds to what is happening. Once we get the players back we will get that consistency back.”
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