Kris Commons admits he feels sorry for Celtic players who will be unable to celebrate their nine in a row achievement with their teammates - but reckons the laser focus of the Hoops squad will mean they will already be thinking about an historic tenth title.
Neil Lennon's men are expected to be crowned as the kings of the Premiership today following an SPFL conference call to rubber-stamp the end of the 2019/20 season.
They currently sit atop the table with a 13 point gap separating them from Rangers with just eight games still to play. While the Ibrox men do have a game in hand, the title was always a massive long shot after their form collapsed following the winter break.
And Commons, who took part in the first five of the nine, is confident that the winning mentality that comes from the leadership of boss Lennon and captain Scott Brown will ensure that the squad is already setting their sights on the "holy grail" of next season's campaign.
He wrote in The Daily Mail : "For the Celtic players, celebrating that piece of history on the pitch would have been remarkable. Imagine the atmosphere inside the stadium when the trophy was lifted? Absolutely incredible.
"In that sense, you have to feel a little bit sorry for everyone who is missing out.
"The likes of Scott Brown and Callum McGregor would have enjoyed the party that night. But these guys would also have wanted to be back at work the next day if they could. Because now they could go for ten.
"This is what Celtic supporters have been singing about since the sixth title. It’s the holy grail."
He continued: "From my own experience, there would usually be a point in the party when the leaders would say something.
"Celtic have two huge figures there in Lennon and Brown. It would be a message about savouring the taste of this success, but also getting ready for what is to come.
"Listening to them would fuel me.
"I would think: 'Right, I really want to feel this again. Let’s go and do what it takes'.
"They are moments that fire you up for the following season. And ones you really miss when you are finished playing. It’s important that the way this campaign was curtailed doesn’t take anything away from the job Lennon has done.
"He threw the gauntlet down to his players when they lost to Rangers on December 29 and it looked like it could be neck-and-neck.
"They had a really good winter break in Dubai, they analysed things and worked hard to bring back the spark that had been missing in that derby game. To win 12 and draw one out of 13 domestic games in 2020 tells its own story about how effective that was.
"Lennon’s work has been nothing short of remarkable ever since he came back into the club. If he goes on and leads Celtic to another title next season, then I hope he gets to enjoy one of those really-treasured moments by lifting the trophy on the pitch in front of a full house."
And Commons reckons Lennon's tradition of handing over his medals to supporters might change next season.
He wrote: "In the past, he has given away a medal to supporters.
"But, if he could get that one — the ten — then I’m sure he would want it on the mantelpiece. Working towards that goal will already be dominating his thoughts."
