Celtic hero Andy Walker reckons the gap between the Hoops and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership "will only get bigger".

Ange Postecoglou's side are currently nine points clear of their Glasgow rivals in the league and the 57-year-old feels that the Parkhead club are in a very good position not just to retain the title but also potentially win a treble.

The Scottish champions recently ran out 2-1 winners against Michael Beale's men at Hampden to lift the first domestic trophy of the season, the League Cup.

And Walker predicts that Celtic will continue to grow from strength to strength.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "Ange Postecoglou is just used to winning. I think you are right to highlight that nine-point gap.

"I think it will only get bigger. Celtic are on an astonishing run since they lost that game last September to St Mirren, but they bounced back so well from that defeat.

"They have got a nine-point gap and they have still got Rangers to play a couple of times in the league, home and away, and I can only see them adding to that lead.

"The Scottish Cup can go anywhere, as anyone can win in 90 minutes. I don't think anyone at Celtic will speak about it publicly but they will certainly have their eye on yet another treble."

READ MORE: Kevin McKenna on Celtic: Record-breaking treble ingredients all there

Meanwhile, Israel boss Alon Hazan has suggested Celtic winger Liel Abada may not be an automatic first choice pick anymore because he hasn't signed a new deal with the Hoops.

The 21-year-old came off the bench in Sunday's League Cup 2-1 victory over Rangers at Hampden, but was booked for diving late on in the game.

This season, Abada has only started nine league games for Celtic and has come off the bench on 17 occasions. However, last season he started 24 league games and made a huge impact after his £3.6 million move from Maccabi Petah Tikva that summer.

He was reportedly offered a new, improved deal by Celtic this season after interest from Southampton and Crystal Palace even though he still has three-and-a-half years left, but nothing has been agreed so far.

When asked about the offer last month, Abada said: "I don’t want to speak about it. What will happen will happen. I am only focussed on football."

Now new Israel boss Hazan has offered his take on 21-year-old Abada's situation with his last five games for Celtic all from the bench.

He said: "Liel Abada plays in a team that are the champions of Scotland and at least he is in the rotation of the squad.

"It's not as if he has disappeared or does not get on from the bench. And his numbers are good too.

"He may not be playing as much as last season, but he is still playing.

"Maybe his situation is because he didn't want to extend his contract, but he is still in the squad and being rotated."