Strachan knew from the start Hearts would pose a threat

IT HAS not taken Hearts' six straight wins and a place at the top of the SPL to convince Gordon Strachan the Tynecastle side pose a serious threat to his aim of returning the championship to Parkhead.

He knew George Burley's side were all of that even before the first whistle blew this season.

Which is why, as Strachan prepares to take his back-in-form Celtic side to the capital on Sunday to take on Hibs, he will not be surprised if they make the journey a staggering eight points behind the league leaders, who are expected to make it a magnificent seven out of seven wins when they face Inverness in the Highlands 23 hours earlier.

Of course, Hearts have still to cross swords with either half of the Old Firm - they face Rangers at Tynecastle the following weekend - and this has caused some to suggest they are occupying a false position in the championship.

But Strachan, a dedicated student of the game who preceded his appointment as Celtic boss by working as a football analyst on the BBC, knows a good thing when he sees it.

And he considers Hearts a force to be reckoned with.

The Parkhead boss explained: "I took Hearts seriously even before a ball was kicked.

"They've certainly invested big money. But, what we should not ignore is that they have a group of players who have been there for a few years who are in top form right now.

"From the goalkeeper through the centre-halves to Paul Hartley in midfield, those guys deserve an enormous pat on the back.

"They are playing fantastically well. And, although the foreign lads who have come in are getting a lot of attention, it should also be acknowledged the Scottish lads are providing the base for the manager there to build on.

"Those lads will feel life is great at the moment, given how things are going for both their club and the national team, and they have every right to be pleased with themselves."

However, Strachan was at pains to point out this feel-good factor is not confined to Tynecastle.

Celtic may be about to unveil their new all-black strip at Easter Road, but the colour in no way reflects the mood in the camp, which is buoyant after back-to-back wins and shut outs.

Strachan believes the bond which is developing between the players he has brought in during the summer and the established stars is growing stronger by the game.

Nowhere moreso than in the back line, the cause of so many of the early problems he encountered.

Indeed, as the theme music for the Champions League reverberated around Europe last night - including locally at Ibrox - a moment of reflection was unavoidable.

The memory of the appaling defensive display in Bratislava in the very first game Strachan was in charge effectively closed the door on any European adventures this season.

So it's ironic it is the defence which is now giving Strachan most pleasure these days, a situation he hopes will be the case from this point on as the work on the training field with Paul Telfer, Bobo Balde, Stephen McManus and Mo Camara begins to bear fruit.

Strachan said: "The attacking play in the game against Aberdeen was great to watch at times, but I know we can do that.

"It's our defending that's been a concern at times this season. But, on Saturday, I thought that, as a unit, our back four were absolutely fantastic."

He went on: "The way they played was very satisfying because, of that four, only Balde and McManus knew each other prior to this season.

"And Mick was something like Celtic's fifth-choice centre-half. So, even those two hadn't played together very often.

"When you consider we've brought in a keeper from Poland, a left-back from Burnley and a right-back from Southampton, it's terrific to see them all gelling together and becoming a real solid unit."

Speaking in the Celtic View, Strachan added: "In terms of the satisfaction I take as a coach, it's always enjoyable working with players when you know that, when you are speaking to them, they are happy to be there and are taking things in.

"They have been great in that respect.

"I think the lads at the back actually appreciate we have taken a bit of time to work with them because, on the training field, defenders are often used almost as mannequins while the strikers and midfielders work on some beautiful attacking play."

Strachan reckons his much-maligned defenders are finally showing they were anything but dummies. Now he is demanding they carry on the good work.

Taken from Evening Times