'Rangers would be title favourites with Braga' - Walker

Former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson believes his old side's goal threat gives them the upper hand in the title race, while football analyst and Rangers John Walker says Rangers could be confident about the title with Claudio Braga in their ranks.

The most competitive fight for the Premiership trophy in years was debated on the Scottish Football Podcast and firepower was the focus, with both guests agreeing it will be decisive.

"Lawrence Shankland is out and Claudio Braga has scored but if you look at Rangers' top two goalscorers this season it's Youssef Chermiti and James Tavernier both on seven goals," Neilson said. "At Celtic it's Benjamin Nygren on 14.

"Hearts have got Shankland on 11 who has missed a lot of games, Braga is on 11, Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay have five. They've got goals right throughout the team and they're not relying on one player. Potentially two, three years ago, before they had this really strong squad, if Shankland went out, that was the title challenge gone because they didn't have goals.

"They've got a great squad now that they can do that. Whereas if you look at Celtic, Nygren comes out of the team who's scoring the goals? Or if he has a bad day? Who's scoring the goals? Hearts have got that in the background."

Walker believes switching one player from the leaders over to Ibrox would make Rangers title favourites.

"If Rangers had Braga to call on and put in the starting XI, I would be confident about the title," he said.

"Hearts have got the best two forwards in the league. Rangers and Celtic are looking at teams with their centre forwards and saying things like 'He held the ball up well today. His link-up play was good,' and then you see Braga go to Ibrox and almost every touch he does is perfect, technically sound and he has pace."

"If Hearts have a four-point buffer going into the split with Shankland, Findlay and Braga all fit, and Devlin coming back. Hearts don't slip up as far as I'm concerned.

"I think if they've got everyone fit and can keep them fit for five [post-split] games, Hearts will win the league."