KENNY DALGLISH insists both Celtic and Rangers will have no excuses if they suffer a slow restart following the winter break.

Both clubs have remained on Scottish soil this January, opting against a trip to Dubai, where both clubs have visited over the past two seasons.

Dalglish believes both clubs will benefit from staying at home this year, but he admits it will be interesting to see how they return to form.

Rangers are currently top of the Premiership and Celtic are six points behind.

Writing in the Express, Dalglish said: “Celtic didn’t find any kind of momentum this time last year when they came home from Dubai to a storm of criticism for going away in the first place.

“Several players and backroom staff missed their first game back against Hibs due to Covid isolation regulations, and it just went from bad to worse after that.

“They were put firmly under the microscope for leaving Scotland when the country was in lockdown.

“And, within a matter of weeks, Neil had resigned from his position, with the club 18 points behind runaway leaders, Rangers, who would ultimately end Hoops’ hopes of 10-in-a-row.

“Twelve months earlier, the Ibrox club discovered that their break had come along at exactly the wrong time.

“Steven Gerrard’s squad also went to Dubai, and that was off the back of a victory at Celtic Park which put them in the driving seat to win the league title.

“Steven was grilled about that at the time, and strongly defended their January preparation.

“As far as I’m concerned, I think it’s just too straightforward to blame the winter break for losing games but it will be interesting to see how it goes from here on in.”