CELTIC are keeping tabs on Manchester United mifidelder Scott McTominay, with the English club prepared to send out the Scotland international on loan for the rest of the season. Any deal, however, could hinge on whether or not Marouane Fellaini stays with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team past the January transfer window.

And Celtic legend Pat Bonner thinks that supporters will turn on the Parkhead board if the club fail to win 10 Premiership title in a row. Bonner said: "The fans won’t forgive them – Peter Lawwell more than Brendan, probably – if they don’t win 10 in a row, given the position of strength they were working from and how close they are to doing it."

Ex-Rangers midfielder Alex Rae has said that if Rangers were to win the title this year, it would be one of the greatest achievements in the club's history. "When you consider where Rangers were a year ago and the turnover of players, this would be as significant as any - without a doubt," said Rae. "It would have to be because they would be stopping Celtic getting eight, nine, 10 titles. There’s that aspect of it."

And Rae thinks that Steven Davis' return to the club could be crucial for the league run-in, and has urged the 33-year-old to set the tone in the Rangers midfield the same way that legends Richard Gough or John Brown did. Rae said: "You couldn’t underestimate the importance of guys like Gough, Brown, Ian Ferguson and Steven Davis would come into that category. They just go about their business and cajole players to do better."

New Celtic coach Damien Duff has admitted that his straight-talking nature can come off as a little harsh, but insists that it will benefit players in the long run. "Maybe some days I set my standards too high with everything but I’m hard, emotional and passionate," said Duff. "I hope the players appreciate it and there’s always a little place for being on a player."

And Duff has rubbished stories linking Brendan Rodgers with a move to English Premier League side Leicester City, saying: "I have just blown in here, but when I speak to him he seems so happy. It's his dream club as well."

Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister has backed his experienced stars to shine in twilight of their careers, citing his own experience at Liverpool as an example. "I was a player who went late to a big club so the age thing doesn’t worry me," McAllister said. "But you go and grasp the moment and the facts are if you go to a club like Rangers or Liverpool then it represents a better chance of winning something and that’s still the big desire here."

And McAllister has stressed the importance of building momentum if Rangers are to win the Premiership this season. He said: "There are moments where when you get a sort of performance and results; you’ve got to visualise these moments throughout your career and use them to your advantage."

Partick Thistle midfielder Blair Spittal says that the Firhill club are seriously unerperforming this season and the players are fully aware of it. "To be honest, I’m a bit embarrassed by it all," Spittal said. "To be in the position that we’re in is embarrassing."

In athletics, controversial UK Athletics chairman Richard Bowker is to step down from his role.

In golf, Ireland’s Shane Lowry reaped the rewards of some concerted practice by equalling the course record with a stunning 62 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

In rugby, Scotland’s most-capped player Ross Ford has been left out of the Six Nations Championship training squad in favour of three players who have never experienced Test match rugby, but the Edinburgh hooker could start the tournament if club-mate Stuart McInally picks up an injury.

But Scotland coach Gregor Townsend insists that his selection provides an "opportunity" for the untested players. Townsend said: "There's a common trait between the three, they don’t seem to be fazed with the opposition they’re playing against and playing professional rugby. So that’s a good sign for us that they’re ready to go to the next level and take their opportunity."

And in tennis, the Herald's Stewart Fisher says that Andy Murray's announcement of his imminent retirement merited the emotional outpouring that followed but hopes that we haven't seen the end of him yet.

The Scottish Sun are reporting that Celtic defender Kieran Tierney could miss his side's Europa League clash with Valencia as he recovers from injury.

Hibernian striker Florian Kamberi has denied his manager Neil Lennon's claims that the striker doesn't work hard enough, according to the Daily Record.

Ex-Aberdeen captain Paul Hartley has told the Press and Journal that he understands that offers made from England for Graeme Shinnie may prove too tempting for the current Aberdeen captain to turn down.

And Charlton Atheltic are 'confident' that Rangers target Karlan Ahearne-Grant will reject any approach from Ibrox and sign a new deal at the English League One club, according to the Scotsman.