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Wed 21 December 2016 16:45, UK

By Matt Farr

Former Celtic striker Andy Walker does not believe that Celtic will finish the season unbeaten.

The Hoops are currently 14 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and have won 16 of their 17 league games.

The one game they failed to win was a 2-2 draw with Inverness on September 18.

They remain unbeaten in all domestic competitions, and will be looking to extend that run when they face Hamilton, Ross County and Rangers all before the new year.

However, TV pundit Walker, who spent two years at Celtic, doesn’t think they can go the whole season without losing a match.

He told the Daily Record: “I know they have a couple of difficult games coming up against Hamilton and Ross County before the Rangers game but I think it is unrealistic to expect them to go through the league season undefeated.

“I think Rangers have improved. It’s a bigger game for Rangers. This game is not key for Celtic although it is obviously another one they will be desperate to win after winning 5-1 in the home game.

“It won’t define Celtic’s season. Celtic’s season has been defined by being in the Champions League, having a new manager in and making progress.

“I think they have already got one eye on the Champions League qualifiers next season.”

Brendan Rodgers’ side beat Partick Thistle 1-0 on Tuesday night, but the performance was far from their fluent best. Importantly though, they still managed to snap up all three points.

Under Ronny Deila last season, Celtic lost four times in the league, and their longest unbeaten streak in the league stretched to 12 games. In his first season at the club, Rodgers has already beaten that.

Having already lifted the Scottish League cup, the domestic treble is still on the cards but the achievement would be made all the more sweeter if they can finish without defeat and match the Arsenal Invincibles from the 2003/04 season.

In other Celtic news, the club should avoid handing this player a new deal – here’s why.