Robbie Keane could secure Celtic's grip on title

Could Keano hold the key to the title’s destination for years to come?

By Daniel Hayes

Well folks it’s approaching that time again where Glasgow’s big two collide in which is sure to be more of a titanic battle rather than fantasy football.

Many have argued that the Old Firm game has lost its edge in recent years with many foreigners littering each side. The lack of battlers such as Peter Grant or Ian Ferguson may have taken some of the bite out of the fixture but you can bet your life that this game means as much to the supporters as it ever has.

Celtic travel to Ibrox trailing league leaders Rangers by seven points having played a game more, therefore the significance of Sunday’s Glasgow derby for those in green and white hoops cannot be underestimated.

Rangers on the other hand head into Sunday’s fixture with a comfortable lead at the top and with the chance to kill their bitter rival’s title aspirations stone dead. A victory or even a draw would see Tony Mowbray’s men met with an insurmountable deficit to overcome in such a short space of time.

All this makes for what is going to be an intriguing and exciting clash if not pleasing on the eye. Old Firm games are rarely the purist of football matches but one thing you can guarantee on Sunday is it will be an incident-packed passionate affair…. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

With the Celts needing a victory to revive their slim title hopes all eyes will be on the January recruits with special attention given to Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane. Hoops supporters will be praying that Keane can take his rich vein of form into the Ibrox showdown and breathe new life into the title race.

Diomansy Kamara has been highly impressive since his arrival from Fulham and he will hope to link up with Keane and Marc-Antoine Fortune to provide the goals to fire Celtic to victory.

As well as this season’s title race, Sunday’s Glasgow derby may have huge significance for the destination of the title for years to come. Should Rangers secure their 53rd league title this season it may allow them scope to keep some of their star men such as Kris Boyd.

However should Celts snatch the title from Walter Smith’s grasp in the coming months it could spell financial disaster for the Light Blues with the loss of Champions League revenue a huge possibility should they finish second in the SPL.

The Rangers chairman has already stated how important Champions League revenue is to the Ibrox club and without it they could be in serious trouble. Failure to secure those funds next season could start a fire sale of Gers stars such as Steven Davis and Madjid Bougherra in order to secure much needed funds to appease the bank.

This move would surely dent any hope of the Ibrox club winning the championship for the foreseeable future with Celtic’s superior financial state being able to come to the fore.

Step forward Robbie Keane.

The Irishman was recruited by the Parkhead side amidst a bout of euphoria from the Bhoys faithful in order to wrestle the title back from Govan. His was the ‘blue chip’ signing the fans were crying out for to renew hope that they could mount a challenge to Gers.

Since his arrival the Hoops have won two out of four games in the league but Keane’s performances have been highly impressive and have added a new dimension to the Celts attack.

Having scored three goals so far for his boyhood heroes all eyes will be on the 29 year old to deliver on the biggest stage in Scottish football, the Old Firm game.

If Keane can help his side to victory then it will give the 7,500 travelling Hoops supporters hope that the title race may just go to the wire afterall. Win the title this season and those in green and white may be able to celebrate a few more consecutive titles as a result of their rival’s finances.

That is how important Sunday’s result could be and how important a certain Robbie Keane could be. Even if as expected the Irishman returns to Spurs in the summer he may just have a bearing on the SPL title for the next few years without even donning the Hoops.

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