CELTIC assistant manager John Collins believes Rangers’ potential return would add “more spice” to the Ladbrokes Premiership next season and accused those who don’t share his view of not living “in the real world”. Celtic remain on course for a fifth successive top-tier championship, the last three achieved with Rangers in the lower leagues. Collins felt there would be greater credit given to any future title success should Celtic defeat their old rivals along the way.

“Of course we would, 100 per cent,” he said. “Rangers have been our biggest rivals for hundreds of years so of course it would change everything if Rangers are back in the league. Everyone’s happy when we’re above Rangers. Celtic supporters are happy when it’s like that, that’s the reality.

“I think Rangers in the league brings more spice, more interest, of course it does. Anybody who says otherwise, I don’t think is in the real world. This is the second season [for Collins and Deila at Celtic without Rangers], so you’re kind of getting used to it now. If and when they do get back then it’s a totally different ball game; every week’s exciting, we’re looking for each other’s results, everyone’s talking about both of us and everyone’s full of energy when Rangers are in the league. The fans love Old Firm games, winning Old Firm games.”

Celtic head to Stranraer this afternoon for their fourth round William Hill Scottish Cup tie looking to keep alive their chances of the club’s first domestic clean sweep for 15 years.

“We want the treble,” admitted Collins. “Do we need it? We certainly want it. Time will tell. We nearly did it last year, so we’ll see if we can go one step further this year. The target’s always to win the league, always has been and always will be. That’s the number one target.”

Collins and manager Ronny Deila have come in for some criticism given Celtic’s patchy form but the one-time midfielder says it should all be placed in perspective. The midfielder was part of a Celtic squad in the 1990s that won one trophy in six years.

“It was difficult times back in my early years at Celtic, so I know what real difficult times are like at this club,” he added. “Now we are sitting top of the league and going for a treble. I think if you said that to most coaches and most clubs throughout the world then they’d feel that wasn’t bad.”