It all comes down to this. Celtic have played 56 matches this season, winning 120 major honours in their history, including 55 league titles and a European Cup. However, the Hoops have very rarely played a match as decisive as this. After Wednesday night's drama, Kelechi Ịheanachọ converting a not at all controversial 99th minute penalty to pinch the points at Fir Park, the equation going into the final day could not be simpler.
Hearts kick off one point above the serial champions, with the top two facing each-other at Parkhead on Saturday lunchtime. Thus, a draw for Derek McInnes' side will see the Jambos win a first title in 66 years, while Celtic must win to secure a fifth in a row. The Celts have failed to win any of their three meetings with Hearts this season, losing the first two before a draw in Gorgie in January. If they are to change that fact, these three players will be key for Martin O'Neill's team.
Alistair Johnston
Of course, Celtic have made plenty of mistakes this season; poor recruitment and the 33-day Wilfried Nancy experiment among their numerous self-inflicted errors. However, it is inarguable that long-term injuries have hampered this team too. Jota has not featured for a single minute for over a year, while Alistair Johnston played only 26 minutes between August and April, but has made such a difference since returning.
The Canadian suffered the same serious hamstring injury against both Kairat and Sturm Graz, but is back just in time to feature at a World Cup home soil, as well as play his part in this title run in. Johnston has started three successive Premiership matches, registering an assist at Easter Road to mark his return. He is not yet capable of playing 90 minutes, but is a major upgrade on deputy Anthony Ralston.
A lot of Hearts' threat comes down their left-side through Cláudio Braga and Blair Spittal, so Johnston will be tested both defensively as well as going forward. Playing three games in seven days will be a challenge for the Canadian, something he's not had to do for almost a year, but O'Neill will be desperate to have him on the park for as long as possible.
Benjamin Nygren
Where would Celtic be without Benjamin Nygren? Well, not still in this title race, and that is for certain. The Swede lashed home the crucial go-ahead goal against Motherwell in mid-week, taking his tally to 21, which is certainly not a bad return for his first campaign at the club.
When he arrived from Nordsjælland for a reported fee of £1.7 million last June, most were forecasting that he was doing so to replace Nicolas Kühn as the first-choice right-winger. However, from day one under Brendan Rodgers, Nygren has established himself as part of the first-choice midfield trio, currently being deployed as a number ten by O'Neill.
Of Nygren's 21 goals, many have been important, including the winner at Pittodrie in May. The Swede lashed home a spectacular free-kick during a 2-2 draw Tynecastle earlier this year too, so is very among must Celtic's most-likely match-winners as they search a win this time.
Daizen Maeda
After losing 2-0 at Tannadice in March, every game from there on out was must win for Celtic, something they're on course to achieve. To do so, they really needed one of their big players to step up and Daizen Maeda has done just that, and more. His equaliser on Wednesday means the Japanese has now netted seven times across his last five appearances.
This includes his quick-fire double to defeat Rangers in last Sunday's Old Firm, the second of which a bicycle kick that no one who witnessed will forget in a hurry. On Friday, Maeda was named in Hajime Moriyasu's squad for the World Cup, which continues a huge few weeks for the 28 year old.
Last summer, Maeda wanted to leave the club, VfL Wolfsburg the club most interested in his signature, and was reportedly not happy that his wish was not granted. Now, with only one year remaining on his contract, this could be his final appearance at Parkhead, likely to play in Hoops for the final time against Dunfermline in next weekend's Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.
Maeda has produced so many massive moments since scoring on his debut against Hibs in January 2022, bagging 77 goals in 210 appearances to date, of which seven have come against Rangers. So, he is one of most beloved figures in Celtic's modern history, hence why fans will want to savour him while he is still in Glasgow. Given Maeda's red-hot form right now, you would not put it past him having a massive say in this massive match.
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