Martin O'Neill insisted Hearts can challenge for the Scottish Premiership title in the seasons to come, which he believes will be good for the competition.

Hearts are top of the league with three games to go after they defeated Rangers 2-1 at Tynecastle on Monday.

Hearts have won six consecutive top-flight home games for the first time since August to December 2005 (eight in a row).

They lead Celtic by three points at the Premiership summit, with the two sides set to face off on the final day of the season.

O'Neill has backed Hearts to be a constant presence in the title race in the coming years, especially with the backing of Tony Bloom, who also owns Brighton.

When asked if Hearts can maintain their form next season, O'Neill told talkSPORT: "Why not? Absolutely. Tony Bloom has invested in Brighton, and he has also done the same at Hearts.

"If you're looking at it from a neutral viewpoint, which I certainly am not, but if you were, then there's been excitement this season because Hearts have come up, thrown down the gauntlet to the two big teams, and I think that can only be good for the [Premiership]."

Celtic face Rangers this weekend, and O'Neill's side could move seven points clear of their Old Firm rivals with victory at Celtic Park.

However, O'Neill does not see the clash as a title showdown after Rangers' defeat to Hearts.

"Rangers now are quite a number of points behind Hearts," said the Celtic boss.

"We're talking about three games left, so that would be difficult to overcome at this particular stage.

"It's not impossible, it can happen. The games are very difficult matches still for all of us to come through."