After yet another international break, Heart of Midlothian are back in domestic action tomorrow afternoon.
Derek McInnes’ side has fared well after some have returned from national-team duty, winning at Ibrox and Rugby Park after the September and October breaks.
Now they must go to another difficult venue off the back of the most recent international window.
Aberdeen have improved after a dire start to the season. They started the season in a back four but have changed to a back three in recent matches, with two No.10s behind a lone striker.
One of those 10s is Jesper Karlsson, arguably the Dons’ main threat. He plays to the left of that front three and is an area that could cause Hearts some concern – especially with right-sided centre-back Craig Halkett suspended.
We saw some vulnerability on the right side in the first half against Dundee United, so maybe this might be the game for Michael Steinwender to come in at right-back. He has deputised for Oisin McEntee in that position.
Some may call for the more natural option of Christian Borchgrevink, but he hasn’t played since the opening day of the Scottish Premiership – in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen – and seems less likely to start.
Frankie Kent, meanwhile, seems the obvious choice to come in for Halkett after his return to full fitness. Steinwender, if McEntee was to continue at right-back, and Jamie McCart are other options but Kent feels the more like-for-like replacement.
If the above is the case then McEntee can come into midfield. Tomas Magnusson wasn’t the reason that Hearts dropped points at home to Dundee United but McInnes did say they missed Beni Baningime.
McInnes may look for a different combination than a fortnight ago. McEntee was signed to play as a “raiding” central midfielder and could work well alongside Cammy Devlin.
On the right, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Harry Milne go back out there from the start. Not only has he shown he can tuck in and help out the midfield, he has also shown he is adept at defending on that side against Aberdeen’s main threat.
In attack, we likely won’t see all three of Shankland, Claudio Braga and Landry Kabore and it is hard to see past the so far deadly combination of that has racked up 19 goals between them so far.
As harsh as that is on Kabore who netted another hat-trick while on international duty with Burkina Faso.
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