AIDEN McGEADY last night insisted Hearts will be the biggest threat to Celtic retaining their SPL crown next season.

The 20-year-old praised the Tynecastle side's achievements this term, admitting they have replaced Rangers as the Parkhead outfit's nearest challengers

And after watching from the subs' bench as the Jambos put three past his side last Sunday, McGeady reckons he has seen enough to convince him they are no one-season wonders.

The winger said: "Hearts' league position speaks for itself. If they remain in second place, to get above Rangers is a great achievement.

"Hearts gave us a great run earlier in the season. It's very impressive when you consider they have finished a good bit lower down the league and well adrift of the champions in recent seasons.

"I think Hearts could prove to be equally strong contenders for the title next season.

"Things could be a little bit tighter for us, with Hearts and Rangers maybe challenging even more strongly than this season.

"But it should be remembered we're looking to strengthen too. We'll be building on what we've done this season, too."

McGeady has had a frustrating season due to a combination of indifferent form and injury but he told the Icons website he's ready to put the last few months behind him.

He said: "Losing 3-0 last Sunday wasn't good for us at all but you have to give a lot of credit to Hearts.

"They came out pretty strongly and created chances and the two goals they got in the opening 10 minutes gave them a great cushion. We had a couple of chances too, though, early on and if they had gone in things could have been different.

"I was disappointed not to get on for any part of the game. I thought I might actually have started. I suppose it was just the way the game went that meant I didn't feature.

"My injury is fine now, it has totally cleared up, although I've not been playing matches with the reserves, just in training."

McGeady has, however, played his part in what has been an emphatic championship success and he refuses to accept the suggestion that Celtic have taken their eye off the ball in recent weeks.

He said: "There has been some talk that players have maybe taken the foot off the gas since we wrapped up the title by beating Hearts at Celtic Park at the beginning of last month but I wouldn't say that was true.

"We seem to me to have had exactly the same attitude and desire to win as we have had all season.

"For me, these final matches of the season have been important. Every one of them has been another game to try to impress the manager.

"If you get a chance to play and show the gaffer what you can do, you have to make the most of it.

"Winning my first championship medal means a lot to me. It's a massive achievement to have won the league and I feel as if I've been part of it this season.

"The frustrating thing is to have been injured and to have missed some of the key games in the run-in to the title but I'm delighted to have played my part overall. I suppose I do now feel like a first-team regular because in the matches before I was injured, I was either starting or coming off the bench. I did play more games last season but I didn't have any injuries hampering me then.

"The fact we've won the league by such a big margin after everybody had been writing us off early in the season is very satisfying.

"There were a lot of memorable moments along the way, especially the game against Hearts when we clinched the league. It was great night.

"The Rangers games, too, have been rewarding for us this season. We played well in every match against them, other than the first one at Ibrox.

"If we can continue to do so well in major matches against our main rivals next season, then it could be another good one for us."

Taken from the Daily Record