Andy Walker warns Rangers that Celtic gap will grow and names reason Michael Beale won't catch Ange NEXT season

Confident Andy Walker reckons Celtic will extend their lead over Rangers before the end of the season.

And the pundit has claimed the Parkhead spending power means that Michael Beale will find it tough to catch Ange Postecoglou's relentless side next term. The Scottish Premiership leaders claimed the first piece of silverware on offer in Scotland when Callum McGregor lifted the Viaplay Cup at Hampden, with the club on course to defend the league title with a comfortable nine point lead over Rangers at this stage.

Former Celtic striker Walker reckons that the lead will only grow over the Light Blues with two derby clashes remaining on the fixture list, and questioned if Rangers will have the financial muscle to mount title fight next term. He reckons Beale will have to do some savvy spending if the league title is to be brought back to Ibrox. Asked if Celtic are on course for a Treble with the club holding a nine point lead at the top of the table, Walker told Sky Sports: "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."

Quizzed on Michael Beale's decision to leave out Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin from the starting line-up, he went on: "I was a bit