YOU won't hear Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes or any of his players talk openly about their side’s would-be title hopes even if that is now all they have left to go for this season in terms of tangible success.

But they will be thinking it, and possibly even be discussing such a touchy topic amongst themselves, feelings which would only be made public should they remain within touching distance of Celtic when April comes around.

This is what Willie Miller, Aberdeen’s greatest ever player and now a shrewd media pundit, believes in the aftermath of the club’s Scottish Cup campaign ending after one game, as was the case in the League Cup earlier in this campaign, when Hearts deservedly won a pulsating tie at Tynecastle.

A season that promised so much for McInnes and his players could now end in disappointment and with a huge amount of regret. The cups didn’t happen for them, the tradition of a non-existent European campaign continued and if a far from brilliant Celtic do win a fifth title in a row, second place would feel to some supporters as mere consolation.

McInnes and his captain Mark Reynolds spoke briefly and almost reluctantly on Saturday evening about chasing down Celtic but Miller believes that while this is going to be a difficult task, it is one the current team have to take on.

“I don’t expect anyone at Aberdeen to come out and talk about winning the title unless there are six or seven games to go and it remains a possibility,” said Miller. “But that will be in the manager’s mind. I am sure of that.

“Going out the Scottish Cup was such a disappointment and now the focus has to be on catching Celtic, albeit it’s massive task. They won’t be looking at Hearts beneath them, they will looking to first place. That is what they are going to be taking about among themselves.

“I think they can win the league but at the same time you have to take into account Celtic’s spending power and the fact they will sign players this month. That strength in depth is what keep them as big favourites.

“In saying that, Celtic are in two cups while Aberdeen have no other distractions, which gives me hope they can keep up this challenge. If the gap is just a few points going into the last month of this season, you will hear title talk coming out of Pittodrie – but not before.”

Miller spoke about the “wobble” Aberdeen endured earlier in the season when they took one point from a possible 15, a wretched run that included a 5-1 home defeat inflicted on them by St Johnstone.

Then between Christmas and New Year, they twice drew at home, to Inverness and Partick Thistle, and yet despite this inconsistency and rank bad performances, Aberdeen are still only three points behind Celtic. In any other season they would be well out of the running by now.

Is it any wonder so supporters are pondering ‘what if?’

“I actually believe if Aberdeen were to finish second in the league and get into Europe, it would be viewed as a good season,” said Miller. “The fans will stick with Derek because he has won them a trophy and built a good team. They can see what he is trying to do.

“I would say to the Aberdeen fans to look around them, to see what has happened to Rangers, Hearts and Hibs, and to enjoy being in second place with a good team and a good manager.”

The supporters who packed the away stand at Tynecastle remain largely supportive of McInnes and the players. After all, you don’t have to go too far back to recall a 9-0 defeat at Parkhead. The top of the table felt a million miles away back then.

However, if Aberdeen, or anyone else for that matter, are going to win the league, with Celtic so inconsistent and Rangers still absent, then this is the season to do it. It just might be their only real opportunity for a decade.

There are some fine players at Pittodrie but too often they have not turned up for the big games, Saturday in Edinburgh being a case in point. Miller admits this is something that must change.

“They played really well to come from behind and beat Celtic at Pittodrie and they need more of that,” said the club legend. “So much rests on the head-to-head games with Celtic this season and if Aberdeen were to win two of them then they would give themselves a real chance in this league.

“Consistency has been the problem for every team in the league, from Celtic down. I have watched Aberdeen have a great 45 minutes and then their form leaves them. It must frustrate Derek.

“I understand why the fans are disappointed. To go out of both cups in the first round is poor and Aberdeen didn’t play well against Hearts on Saturday. However, this is a good Aberdeen team who will improve if they stay together.”

That is easier said than done. Goalkeeper Danny Ward’s loan has been ended by Liverpool, a blow McInnes could have done without. However, at least they have a fighting chance.

“We will find out more about where Aberdeen are when Celtic come up on February 3," said Miller. "We don't have long to wait. If they lose, then it will be hard to see them winning the league. But win that and you just never know. As I said, I live in hope.”