ABERDEEN midfielder Greg Stewart has all-but conceded the league title to Celtic.

The champions’ 3-0 win on Saturday sent them eight points clear of the Pittodrie outfit and eleven ahead of a faltering Rangers.

Celtic may well have dropped more points already than they did last season, but Stewart can’t see anyone stopping seven in a row.

The Aberdeen player said: “Hearts did well against them and we felt that if we pressed them and imposed our game on them we could have an effect on it but, fair play to Celtic, it wasn’t to be

“You obviously hope that somebody can take points off Celtic and you just need to keep on beating the other teams. We just want to get maximum points from the two games going into the winter break.

“Realistically, probably second is what we’re aiming for. If Celtic slip up and we keep winning, I suppose you never know.

“I didn’t know that was eight wins in a row for them against us and someone looking from outside might think it was an easy win.

“We didn’t and probably people here didn’t think that either, even Celtic fans. But it is what it is. We were beaten and we just have to move on to the next two games.”

Kristoffer Ajer had another good game at the heart of Celtic’s defence.

At 19, the Norwegian remains raw, but believes he has become a completely different player since he joined the club almost two years ago.

Ajer said: “The players, the staff and the gaffer have done an amazing job for me.

“Since I came in I developed so much this year. It was really good for me to go out on loan to Kilmarnock to get game-time there.

“To be fair when I’m 19 I just have to take all the games I can get and do as well as I can.

“I know there are fantastic centre-halves at this club who want to play too so it’s difficult to break into the team.

“When you get into the team you have to perform. I think there are fantastic centre-halves here and that’s why I’m developing here.

2I’m learning every single day from all of them in training and listening to what they tell me.”

What should be remembered about Ajer is that he began his career as a midfielder and it has been under Brendan Rodgers that he’s moved to the back.

Ajer said: “I must admit I’ve developed a lot more than I thought in 2017. That just signifies the big club Celtic are, they’re helping me so much every single day.

“I’ve bulked up a bit and my understanding of the position is better as well.”