Celtic travel to Edinburgh this weekend aiming to continue their unbeaten start to their league season as they clash with struggling Hearts at Tynecastle.
With Aberdeen breathing down Celtic’s neck at the top of the table, and Hearts just one point ahead of basement club Hibs, both sides are desperate to take all three points from Saturday evening’s encounter in the capital.
Hearts boss Neil Critchley knows he must navigate the clash without long-term absentees Gerald Taylor and Calem Nieuwenhof, though Yutaro Oda is in contention to return for the game. There’s less positive news regarding Kenneth Vargas though, with the Costa Rican forward encountering a delay returning to Edinburgh from international duty - meaning he could now miss the game.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has almost a fully fit squad to choose from, with Adam Idah returning to training after an ankle injury and Japanese trio Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda returning from international duty unscathed. Celtic will be without fringe midfielder Odin Thiago Holm though, who has a calf injury.
But how will both sides line up at Tynecastle tomorrow? The Scotsman predicts Hearts’ and Celtic’s starting XI, with a changes anticipated in both line-ups.
17. RW: Yan Dhanda - Hearts
The Jambos' summer signing from Ross County will come back into the starting XI as Neil Critchley alters his formation to match the visiting champions. | SNS Group
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18. RW: Nicolas Kuhn - Celtic
Celtic's MVP at the moment, the in-form German starts whenever he is fit. | SNS Group
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19. LW: Blair Spittal - Hearts
One of Hearts' best attacking players this season, Spittal could play in an advanced role at the weekend on the left-hand side of a three. | SNS Group
20. LW: Daizen Maeda - Celtic
Like his team-mates Kyogo and Reo Hatate, the energetic winger went to Japan on international duty but barely featured, so will be ready to start at Tynecastle. | SNS Group