Aberdeen: Game against Celtic good test, says Alex McLeish

Beating Celtic next weekend would signal "good times ahead" for Aberdeen, according to a Dons legend.

Aberdeen, joint top of the Scottish Premiership with Inverness CT, host Celtic at Pittodrie on Saturday.

And Alex McLeish told BBC Sportsound that the Dons should be brimming with confidence ahead of the league encounter.

"Let's see how far they've come and judge them on that one," he said.

Aberdeen followed up their opening day win at home against Kilmarnock by coming from behind to beat Motherwell at Fir Park.

And McLeish, who won 11 domestic and two European trophies as a player with Aberdeen, expects them to continue to improve.

"There's always been fantastic potential at Aberdeen, despite the many years without success," said the former Scotland boss.

"They've got off to a flier and it will have given them amazing confidence to have won those two games.

"Going away to Motherwell, the form team of last season, and winning 3-1, is an enormous boost for Aberdeen. Derek McInnes has got them flying."

McLeish said the large travelling Aberdeen support at Fir Park was an indication that fans thought they were "on the verge of something".

"The fact that the fans are turning out in their thousands augurs well for the coming weeks," he added.

"They've got Celtic this weekend and that will be a really big game for them.

"Let's see how far they've come and judge them on that one.

"Many teams have beaten Celtic in recent times but I don't think Aberdeen are one of them.

"If they can win that one then it'll go a long way to convincing the troops that there's good times ahead."