PETER GRANT reckons the title race is already over with Celtic nine points clear over the World Cup break.

Ange Postecoglou's side enjoyed a near-perfect start to the season with 14 wins and just one loss - to St Mirren - in their opening 15 matches.

It puts Celtic on 42 points so far which is nine ahead of Rangers who dropped points to Hibs, St Mirren and Livingston with draws and losses to Celtic and St Johnstone.

For Grant, the gap is too big and the title race is over with Rangers unable to cope with major injury struggles in the first chunk of the season.

It's a problem that Grant does not believe would impact Celtic as he claimed Postecoglou has the squad to cope even with injury concerns.

Quizzed on whether the title race is over, Grant told Go Radio: "Yes. Yeah.

"I just think that Celtic have got the players in the squad.

"I said it at the start of the season and that's what I go on.

"If Celtic get injuries, they can deal with it.

"Rangers have proven that when they have injuries, they can't deal with it and that's the difference."

Meanwhile, Postecoglou provided an injury update on Joe Hart and Giorgos Giakoumakis after Celtic's loss to Sydney FC in the Sydney Super Cup.

The Parkhead chief revealed the pair could be back for the match against Everton this weekend with Hart struggling with a knock and Giakoumakis dealing with an infected toe.

Postecoglou said: "Joe Hart was a bit sore after the last game and Giako had an infected toe so he missed training yesterday. They might be in for Sunday."

Postecoglou was then quizzed on Stephen Welsh's condition with the defender taken off against Sydney after suffering a nasty head knock in the friendly game.

The Celtic manager said: "I don't know mate he is getting his head stitched up and that was our main concern."

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