Commons: Dons better under McInnes
Kris Commons scored against Aberdeen after just five minutes of his Celtic debut four years ago, but insists it is an improved Dons side he will face on Sunday.
After signing from Derby in January 2011, the midfielder introduced himself to the Parkhead support with a wonderful chip over Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield at Hampden Park to inspire the Hoops to a comfortable 4-1 League Cup semi-final win.
Derek McInnes has since taken over from Craig Brown as Pittodrie boss and, after capturing the Scottish League Cup last year - the club's first trophy in 19 years - his side are currently unbeaten in 13 Scottish Premiership games and just three points behind leaders Celtic, albeit they have played a game more.
While Commons is reminded about his debut every time an Aberdeen fixture comes around, he believes this present Dons team are "very different" from his first viewing.
Speaking to Celtic's official match programme - in an extract published on the club's website - the 31-year-old said: "I can't forget it because people keep bringing it up every time I play Aberdeen.
"It was a memorable moment for myself as it was my debut, a semi-final at Hampden, a new club and new players.
"I think I arrived on the Thursday, trained on the Friday then I played at the weekend so it's a very memorable goal, one I'll never forget, but Aberdeen are very different as a side from what they were four years ago.
"They have improved under Derek McInnes and they have some good players in there.
"Their form shows that and they're only three points behind us in the league so they are making improvements.
"They won the Scottish League Cup last year as well so they are improving and that keeps us on our toes as we can't take the foot off the gas."
Improvement was one theme of Ronny Deila's pre-match press conference and he claimed the conversion of his Celtic squad to 24-hour a day athletes was bearing fruit.
The Hoops' Europa League last-32 exit to Inter Milan in the San Siro on Thursday night - they lost 1-0 to go out 4-3 on aggregate - was their first defeat since losing 2-1 to Dundee United in December, with the first-half dismissal of Virgil van Dijk for picking up two bookings a mitigating factor.
While leading the title race, the champions can also look forward to a William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final and a Scottish League Cup final against Dundee United in March.
Deila is encouraged by the way his players have bought into his philosophy and is looking for even more from them in the future.
"This is just the start," the Norwegian said. "I like to see progress. For a lot of players, it is the start of their careers. I am very optimistic about the future.
"Everyone is starting to understand what it means to be 100 per cent every day.
"To put effort every day into training and be 24-hour athletes - that is why we are getting better.
"You see the level in running, sprinting, fitness; it is a different level now than we were in the summer. And that is just the start."
Aberdeen defender Donervon Daniels believes the side will have a great chance of winning the Scottish Premiership title if they continue their rich vein of form.
The Dons are unbeaten in 13 league games dating back to a 2-1 reverse at home to Celtic in November.
McInnes' side travel to Celtic Park aiming to move level on points with the champions.
Daniels, signed on a six-month loan deal from West Brom in January, has rubbished suggestions that Sunday's match is a title decider.
The defender is convinced, however, that continuing their good form will put them in a strong position to win the league.
Daniels said: "If we can continue the good form that we're on then we've got a good chance of picking up the prize at the end of the season.
"It's just another game, we've got 30 points still to play for left in the league so we'll just have to concentrate as we have every other game and put our focus into getting some points away from home."
Source: PA
