Look out or Arabs will break our Hart

Aug 3 2008 By Mark Guidi

PAUL HARTLEY reckons Celtic can make it four in a row this season - but thinks Dundee United will join rivals Rangers in mounting a championship challenge.

The Hoops midfielder worked under Tannadice gaffer Craig Levein at Hearts and believes his Arabs side will have a storming campaign.

He's also backing Rangers to be stronger after bringing in some new faces this summer.

But Hartley is confident Gordon Strachan's side can hold on to their crown and is looking forward to playing a key role for the Hoops. He said: "You set out to win the title and it is the most important thing.

"It will always start out between us and Rangers but a team like Dundee United will try to mount a challenge.

"Craig Levein has turned themaround without spending a lot. He has an eye for players and gets the best out of them. They will probably be the team that challenges.

"We all know finances dictate the Scottish game and Rangers and Celtic have more power than the rest. But sometimes you get a surprise package and at Hearts we had such a good start three years ago.

"We hoped to progress because there was a new manager (George Burley) and it looked like he was going to spend some serious money but it didn't pan out.

"However, this season will produce a fascinating title battle. Rangers have brought in new faces and I've played with Andrius Velicka and Kenny Miller.

"Velicka is underrated. He scored a few goals against us for Hearts andwill become a key signing."

Hartley is a Hamilton lad and was chuffed to see his hometown team win the First Division last term. The SPL will be much tougher but the Celtic star thinks Billy Reid's men can stay up.

He said: "Billy was a player when I was at Hamilton as a kid and he has done well.

"They have one of the best youth policies in the country. People won't know what to expect but I think Accies will do well."

Hartley's place in the Celtic team looked under threat last summer when Strachan spent big to bring in Scott Brown and Massimo Donati.

But he won his place back andwas a key man alongside January signing Barry Robson (far left) as Celtic clinched the title in a dramatic run-in.

Hartley said: "Last summer we bought midfielders and I had a fight on my hands.

"But in the last three or four months of the season it went pretty well. And to be an ever-present in the Champions League games was fairly satisfying.

"I knew I wasn't going to be a first-choice pick. Butwhenmy chance came Iwas able to play for most of the season."

Hartley is now recognised as a holding midfielder and can turn to coach Neil Lennon for advice. Lenny played that role for Celtic until last season and Hartley said: "Neil told me that position was the key to a lot of things - going forward and defensively. He's right.

"We got punished in Europe when we didn't have the ball. Against Barcelona in the Nou Camp I never saw it."

Celtic will face more giants in the Champions League this termand Hartley is glad his side didn't have to play any nerve-shredding qualifiers.

He said: "Our whole season might have been different had we not beaten Spartak Moscow to qualify last year.

"Getting to the group stages is massive for the club financially."