Kevin Thomson has told Rangers they must stop handing Celtic any more free-hit Sundays if they are to reel in their city rivals in at the top of the Premiership.

Rangers have no European commitments this term, while Celtic have at least six more Europa League matches to negotiate, starting with Thursday's visit of Celta Vigo.

Derek McInnes' side will play their weekend matches before Celtic more often than not over the next couple of months, but they blew the chance to turn up the pressure last Saturday with a 2-2 draw at Dundee before Martin O'Neill's men hammered Hearts 7-1.

This weekend, Rangers have the opportunity to move within a point when they host St Johnstone on Saturday before Celtic travel to Hibernian on Sunday.

"The bit I think that favours Rangers, or it should, and there can't be any excuses from a blue perspective, is they've not got Europe," former Rangers midfielder Thomson said on The Breakdown podcast.

"The likelihood is they're going to play in front of Celtic week after week. It'll not happen every week, obviously. But it's that psychological aspect of being able to win on the Saturday.

"It's St Johnstone at Ibrox on Saturday and if Celtic were to potentially have a hard European game (against Vigo) and then they have to go to Easter Road on Sunday. They could still go to Easter Road and win, but I think that's the exciting part about this title race."

Thomson, in a discussion with former Celtic player Charlie Mulgrew about a combined current Old Firm XI, added: "I still think you would pick more Rangers players (than Celtic) in a starting 11 now."