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.
13. CM: Beni Baningime - Hearts
Coming off the bench in the defeat to Rangers a fortnight ago, Baningime will return to the starting XI against the champions. | SNS Group
14. CM: Arne Engels - Celtic
The club's record signing has shown signs of real progress in these last few weeks and is expected to be part of the starting XI at Hearts. | SNS Group
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15. SNS Group
A regular starter under Neil Critchley, the Australian will be handed the task of disrupting Celtic's talented midfield trio. | CM: Cammy Devlin - Hearts
16. CM: Reo Hatate - Celtic
Went to Japan on international duty last week, but played just 11 minutes of football. Will be fresh, ready and raring to go in Edinburgh. | SNS Group