But the Republic of Ireland international has warned that Celtic must claim the full 24 points on offer to them if they are to muscle their way to a third consecutive SPL title.

Eight games remain for Celtic, while Rangers, who have a six-point lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, have nine left to play.

The third Old Firm derby of the season will take place on April 16 at Parkhead, and the teams must meet again in Glasgow's east end before the campaign ends.

McGeady said: "Having two home games against Rangers gives us the chance to claw back some of the points and those matches are going to be massive now.

"If we can win the first one, it will allow us to close the gap and give us a real boost going into the next one. Those games are so vital for us now and we'll do everything we can to take full points."

McGeady insists solidarity among the Celtic players is vital, and stressed each of them must believe Rangers can be caught if Gordon Strachan's side are to stay in the hunt.

He said: "Everyone at the club needs to be together. The players don't believe the league race is over and we need the fans to look at things that way as well.

"There are still a lot of points to play for, so nothing is over yet."

The 1-0 defeat Celtic suffered at Ibrox on Saturday was a bitter blow to their hopes of another league crown.

"Saturday's result didn't help us," McGeady told club website www.celticfc.net, "but there's still a lot to play for and we now have to look at the remaining eight games and try to take maximum points from them."