There are three main selection decisions facing Heart of Midlothian in what is a pivotal moment in their 2025/26 campaign.
One is more straightforward than the others, one depends on how Derek McInnes wishes to deal with Celtic’s threats and the other is anyone’s guess at this point.
Two injuries to key players mean centre forward and central midfield need attention, while there is a decision to be made at right-back – left-back too, if Harry Milne is used in midfield as he was against Falkirk last weekend.
Up front
Replacing Lawrence Shankland is straightforward in a sense, but as pointed out by the Hearts head coach, there isn’t going to be a like-for-like. Instead, Landry Kabore will likely be given a chance to make his mark, after what must have been a frustrating campaign for him in many ways.
After visa delays, he has had to wait patiently as the team, including the front three, held their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Burkina Faso international showed flashes with his double against Dundee before AFCON came around. In his two appearances since his return he’s been asked to do a very specific role in a team playing with 10 men.
Now is the chance for Kabore to get a run in the team something he has been denied so far, through no one’s fault.
Right-back
This is a toss-up between Jordi Altena and Michael Steinwender. The former is more likely to start if Hearts set up with a back three, the latter if it’s a back four.
Before his suspension at the weekend, Steinwender returned with excellent performances against Dundee off the bench and a few days later against St Mirren.
Altena certainly brings more in an attacking sense, but McInnes may favour the Austrian, given the threat from either Maeda or Sebastian Tounekti.
Steinwender is quick, is good at one-v-one defending and brings a physical presence that Altena lacks.
Central midfield
This is the biggest headache for McInnes, eased slightly by the signing of Marc Leonard, who may be needed from the start.
The 24-year-old has the qualities to step into the midfield and thrive.
Losing Cammy Devlin and Beni Banigime at the same time is rotten luck – even Shankland does a lot of work in the central midfield area.
If this had happened just a week or two later, Oisin McEntee and perhaps Ageu would be ready to be involved. As it stands, the Irishman has an outside chance while Hearts’ record signing could return next week. That’s on top of the continued absence of Calem Nieuwenhof.
With Tomas Magnusson also a doubt, it may be who is fitter between the Icelander and McEntee, unless neither is fit enough to start.
Blair Spittal is also an option, and could play off the side and tuck in as the third midfielder – he also brings a lot of experience that will be missing due to the absence of Shankland and Devlin.
Milne started in midfield in last weekend’s Scottish Cup exit. Though playing him in midfield again would mean Jamie McCart at left-back and four centre-backs across the defence.
If Magnusson is fit, he will likely have to play a more reserved role than he has until now, including when he did well to nullify Callum McGregor at Celtic Park.
But if Claudio Braga starts up front alongside Kabore, he could be asked to drop off the front out of possession to stop the Celtic captain from dictating play.
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