O'Neill says Hearts can be regular title contenders

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill believes Hearts are in a strong position to become regular title contenders in the Scottish Premiership.

Sunday's win over Rangers means Hearts lead Celtic by three points with three games left in the title race as Derek McInnes' side aim to become the non-Old Firm club to win Scotland's top-flight since Aberdeen in 1985.

With the backing of Brighton owner Tony Bloom and his data analytics company, O'Neill believes it is possible for Hearts to maintain the same level of consistency beyond this campaign.

"Why not? Absolutely. Tony Bloom has invested in Brighton and he has also done the same at Hearts," O'Neill told talkSPORT.

"If you're looking at it from a neutral viewpoint, which I certainly am not, but if you were, then there's been excitement this season because Hearts have come up, thrown down the gauntlet to the two big teams and I think that can only be good for the [Premiership]."

O'Neill gave "great credit" to Hearts for "going strongly at it and being able to stay there" and said Sunday's clash between Celtic and Rangers can no longer be viewed as a title showdown.

Rangers are seven points adrift of the league leaders and four points behind defending champions Celtic, with second place still earning a shot at Champions League qualification.

"Rangers now are quite a number of points behind Hearts," said O'Neill.

"We're talking about three games left, so that would be difficult to overcome at this particular stage.

"It's not impossible, it can happen. The games are very difficult matches still for all of us to come through."

The Celtic manager added Hearts' superior goal difference gives them the edge should their current advantage hold going into the final game of the season at Celtic Park.

"I suppose I was looking for a draw [between Hearts and Rangers]. A draw is very, very difficult to cheer on, but that would then have put it in our own hands," the Northern Irishman said.

"As it turns out, mathematically speaking, it's not actually in our own hands.

"But credit to the team, we're still fighting, we still have a chance - there's no question about it."