McInnes’ Tynecastle return, Goodwin’s entertainers & Reedijk eyes first win
The Scottish Premiership returns with three compelling midweek fixtures: Rangers manager Derek McInnes goes back to Hearts, Dundee United visit Celtic, and Hibernian seek a first win under Marink Reedijk. Each match carries a different test, from the response to McInnes’s departure to whether United can sustain their strong run and whether Hibs can halt theirs.
McInnes left Hearts after coming close to a title in May and expects a frosty welcome at Tynecastle; injured former Hearts players Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin will also miss the match. Dundee United are fourth after five unbeaten games, but Celtic have gone 51 home matches without losing to them since 1992. Hibs have lost three in a row and sit bottom, while St Mirren ended a five-match losing run on Saturday.
In short
- McInnes returns to Tynecastle with Rangers.
- Dundee United take a five-match unbeaten run to Celtic.
- Bottom-placed Hibs seek a first win under Reedijk.
Explained simply
The Scottish Premiership is Scotland’s top football league. Hearts, Rangers, Celtic, Dundee United, Hibernian and St Mirren are among its clubs, and the season’s results shape the race for the title and places in European competitions.
Derek McInnes managed Hearts before leaving for Rangers after coming close to the title. Dundee United have recently put together an unbeaten run, while Hibernian are seeking a win under new manager Marink Reedijk. St Mirren are also trying to build on a recent end to a losing run.
The fixtures bring together clubs with different recent records and histories. Celtic have a long unbeaten home record against Dundee United, while Hearts’ supporters may have mixed feelings about McInnes’s return; the matches matter to each club’s position and momentum in the league.