Deila hopes to cheer Celtic on to 10 in a row

Ronny Deila hopes to be cheering Celtic on to 10 titles in a row after he leaves Parkhead at the end of the season.

The departing Norwegian could win his second and the Hoops' fifth successive Premiership crown on Saturday when they travel to play Hearts in the lunchtime kick-off at Tynecastle.

Victory would take Celtic 12 points clear of Aberdeen and their massive goal difference advantage of 36 over the Dons - who play the first of their four remaining games against Motherwell later in the afternoon - would make them all-but champions.

It is assumed that traditional rivals Rangers will provide a level of challenge that has been missing for the last four years when they return to the top flight next season but, asked if he expected to see what would be a record-breaking 10 straight titles going to Celtic Park, the Norwegian said: "I hope that will happen.

"I will always be a big Celtic supporter and I will follow everything that happens but it is easy to talk about the future, first we have to win this title and get over the line. We have been the best in the last four years and we can be this year as well.

"And when you are the best, the only thing you have to be is hungry.

"Everyone has to want to get better every day to improve because you have the advantage over the other teams and that will continue if the work has been done and done even better.''

The former Stromsgodset boss was in a relaxed mood at the club's Lennoxtown training ground on a day Celtic announced that their partnership with Magners Irish Cider has been extended by four years to 2020.

When the possibility of him returning to Scandinavia to manage one of their top teams and then meeting Celtic in European competition was put to Deila, he joked: "It could be Real Madrid as well, you never know, we will see.

"If I came back here with another team it would be fun. But that is not in my mind right now.''

Deila insists he is focusing only on the trip to Gorgie where he would "feel so happy'' if the day was to end with a title win.

"The most important thing is to be champions,'' he said.

"It is a big game and we are in a very good position.

"It is going to be a big atmosphere tomorrow and nothing would please me more than to do it then.

"I can see that (extra edge) in training, they know a good game is coming up and we want to do it tomorrow.''