The Scottish Premiership returns on Friday with Celtic defending the title they won dramatically ahead of Hearts last season. The campaign matters because Hearts came close to ending decades of Old Firm dominance, while uncertainty over both their rebuilding effort and Celtic’s squad could make the title race less predictable.

Hearts have lost manager Derek McInnes, captain Lawrence Shankland and midfielder Cammy Devlin, while new coach Wouter Vrancken has begun under pressure after a 6-0 Champions League qualifying defeat to Sturm Graz. Celtic retained Martin O’Neill after winning a domestic double, but supporters remain unhappy with the board; the club have spent about £15m on Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, while Daizen Maeda has joined Ipswich Town.