Gary Hooper claims Celtic to be the best team in the Scottish Premier League
Celtic striker Gary Hooper has fired a warning shot to Scottish Premier League champions Rangers ahead of the first Old Firm derby of the season, claiming that his team is the best in the league.
The forward, who joined Celtic over the summer from Scunthorpe United, took his tally for the 2010-11 campaign to five goals in five matches as he netted both of his side’s goals in a 2-1 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday, 17 October.
Hooper told reporters, "I haven't seen all the teams yet, but we are the best in the league in my opinion. We have a good team, all different nationalities bonding together, and it showed at Tannadice."
Celtic have won their last 16 league games since Neil Lennon took over from the sacked Tony Mowbray last season, but they are still in second place, behind their bitter rivals Rangers.
Hooper was left to rue a spate of missed opportunities against United which, had they been converted, would have pushed the Parkhead side to the top of the table.
"We must have made about 50 chances and we only took two of them, but the main thing is we got three points," said the 22-year-old, who added that he was looking forward to his first Old Firm game on 24 October. "I am looking forward to next week. If the
whole team plays like that, we will have a good chance of making it nine unbeaten (this season)."
Meanwhile, Hooper has set his sights on being the league’s top scorer this season, chasing down Rangers’ Kenny Miller, who has stormed to the top of the scoring charts with 11 goals in eight games.
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