McDonald: Old Firm cup tie sure to lift Celtic

Former Celtic striker Scott McDonald believes the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final draw will give his old club an added edge in the coming weeks.

Celtic have drawn their last two Premiership games, escalating speculation over the future of manager Ronny Deila.

But they remain top of the table and now have a Hampden clash with Rangers to look forward to.

"It's probably the game Celtic were looking for," the Motherwell striker said. "It gives them something to get their teeth into and gives them motivation and extra edge going into the title run-in.

"I really expect them to lift their game. All those players will want to play in the game so they will all want to be performing leading up to that. So I fully expect Celtic's form to increase over the coming week."

On Deila, the Australian added: "There's been a lot of speculation with his job at the minute with going out the League Cup and the European performances but a win over your Old Firm rivals would certainly put them to bed for a little while at least and put them on the road to winning another cup.

"But there's a lot of football he will be more worried about leading up to that. They have to do their job in the league and try to keep Aberdeen at bay."

McDonald and his Motherwell team-mates left Rangers in one of their darkest places last May when they thrashed them 6-1 over two legs to consign them to another season in the Championship.

But he has not been surprised by the transformation of Rangers under Markv Warburton.

"Not at all because I played against Mark's Brentford team last year and the way they played football, they came as a surprise package last year," the former Millwall forward said.

"They had only just come up from League One to the Championship and if things hadn't worked out the way they did near the end of last season with all the speculation of him leaving, I feel they would have pushed for promotion to the Premier League.

"I always thought it was a great appointment. He likes working with young players and Rangers needed to start from scratch again. They kept a good core and added to it."

Only three of the Rangers players that started last season's League Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic remain in Warburton's squad while Celtic still have eight of their winning team to choose from.

McDonald, who was promoting the game for William Hill, said: "I think it is an advantage for Celtic that they have a lot more experience in that changing room.

"It's just important that you don't become that rabbit in the headlight come Old Firm derby day. I remember my first game getting involved with Allan McGregor at a corner.

"There were only two minutes gone and I got booked and I thought 'oh, here we go, I shouldn't have done that'.

"It's important to keep calm out there and I'm sure that will be the message from the likes of Kenny Miller and others that have experienced the Old Firm before."