Heart of Midlothian

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Hearts have midfielders Beni Baningime and Calem Nieuwenhof back in contention after hamstring problems. Ageu and Finlay Pollock remain out with similar injuries.

Rangers defender Nasser Djiga has left for Africa Cup of Nations duty. Lyall Cameron has had an injection and will miss out while Bojan Miovski will be assessed.

Rangers remain without John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Nedim Bajrami and Oliver Antman with muscle injuries. Rabbi Matondo (knee) is closing in on a comeback while Kieran Dowell is fit again.

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Claudio Braga admits a title challenge was beyond his expectations when he joined Hearts in the summer.

The Portuguese forward has been a revelation since signing from Norwegian second-tier side Aalesund, scoring 11 goals in 22 games for the table-topping Tynecastle men.

Hearts, having played a game more than the Old Firm, head into Sunday's showdown at home to Rangers six points clear of Celtic and nine ahead of the Ibrox team.

"Expectations when I came was, to be honest, to do as best as we could," said Braga.

"I think that's sort of what we're trying to do now and, luckily, we're getting results and getting points from that.

"I was not thinking about that when I came, to be honest, but thinking about trying to go as far as possible, and hopefully we can just keep going, with the momentum that we have right now."

Braga insists Hearts are not thinking of the title - because they "don't have to".

"Outside of the club, definitely, of course, people talk and family talk, everybody," the 26-year-old added.

"But as a group I think what we need to do, the best scenario for us, is just to keep our feet on the ground.

"We're not thinking about the title. Not thinking about that because we don't need to. We don't need to take that pressure on.

"It's a good game against a good team [Rangers], worth the same points as the other games. We're playing at home and we're going to do everything to win."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts boss Derek McInnes insists there is "no pressure" on his team, who are sitting pretty six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership before Sunday's clash with third-place Rangers.

Hearts will lead the top flight at Christmas for the first time since 1991, with crisis-hit Celtic six points behind and Rangers a further three back. Both Glasgow clubs have played a game fewer than Hearts.

Despite that healthy advantage and the chance to extend the gap to Rangers at Tynecastle this weekend, McInnes says there is a "relaxed" feel to his squad.

"I would feel more mental fatigue if we weren't at the top of the league," he said.

"Having been there, I want us to stay there. I want us to stay exactly where we are. I'm enjoying where we are. You've got to enjoy this and I keep saying to the players, 'you've done so well to get here'.

"We have to understand that we've done a lot right to get to where we're at and we have to do so much more to keep us there. The other pressures and things, I actually think we're all quite relaxed about it.

"I don't know how the players come across, but certainly when I'm in and around it, I think we're just enjoying it. I know Lawrence [Shankland] and others I've spoken about, they felt more pressure last season.

"Because there's nothing worse than feeling you're underachieving. There's nothing worse than feeling that we should be doing better.

"So at the moment, I don't think there is pressure on anybody at the club. We're all just enjoying what we're doing."

Hearts finished in the bottom six last season, but have taken the league by storm with McInnes at the helm and with Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics aiding recruitment.

Still, McInnes is under no illusions about the scale of the task required if they are to stay at the top.

"We've got to assume that other teams are going to improve. With that, we have to keep improving," he said.

"The motivation has to keep getting better and stronger. We've got to understand that the longer we're up there, there's a bit more on these games against Hearts at the minute.

"There's been a lot of high-profile games recently. Every game seems to be bigger than the next one. Sell-out at Celtic Park, sell-out at Falkirk, sell-out Sunday, sell-out at Edinburgh derby, sell-out at the home game against Livingston. These are brilliant games to be involved in.

"We're exactly where we want to be in terms of that. For us to maintain it, we have to acknowledge that individually we need to improve as players. As a team, we're going to have to keep improving. That goes without saying."

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Can Hearts lay down another "statement" victory when Rangers travel to Tynecastle on Sunday?

The league leaders have already done the double over Celtic and beaten the Ibrox club this season.

"When it comes to challenging for titles and being up near the top of the table every game is huge," football writer Moira Gordon told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"That's the pressure Celtic and Rangers are under constantly. Hearts are now under that pressure to just keep delivering, where a draw is seen as bubble bursting by outsiders. It shows you what is needed to stay at the top.

"It's a huge game because they've already beaten Celtic twice, Rangers already. It's almost unthinkable for us in the modern game to be thinking of a team outwith Celtic and Rangers going up against them and coming out undefeated in the first four fixtures against them.

"If they can win this one, it is real statement. If they can beat Celtic and Rangers both times and still be up there [in the table] come the new year then it is massive for them.

"Rangers aren't mugs any more, they've stabilised, they've got results, they're not easy to beat away from home. It's not an easy feat so if Hearts can do it, it's a statement win."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

With Christmas just around the corner, Hearts supporters are craving the early present of three points against Rangers at a packed Tynecastle.

For the first time in recent memory, the bookmakers have Hearts as favourites - and it's hard to argue.

Derek McInnes' side have already shown this season that reputations count for little, with impressive victories at both Ibrox and Celtic Park.

This is a Hearts team playing with belief and authority. One league defeat in 17 matches and 38 points on the board is no accident; it's the mark of consistency, organisation and growing confidence.

The contrast with April could not be more stark. Back then, Hearts limped into the split with 40 points and missed out on the top six. Fast forward to now and the transformation has been remarkable.

Crucially, there is no sense of complacency. With Rangers followed quickly by another Edinburgh derby, standards remain high and focus sharp.

Even in testing conditions last weekend, Hearts found a way to win away at Falkirk - who have been the surprise package of the Premiership. Good teams find solutions when conditions are tough, and Hearts are doing that week after week.

This group continues to answer every challenge put in front of them, and the supporters now arrive at Tynecastle expecting strong performances rather than hoping for them.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says there has been no further contact from Heart of Midlothian since the Scottish Premiership leaders sent a letter of intent last week to sign Josh McPake and he is confident the winger will want to help the Perth side win the Championship title before leaving. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Picture this. It's Christmas 1991, Queen are top of the singles charts with Bohemian Rhapsody - and Hearts sit atop the Scottish Premiership table.

That was the last time Hearts were peering down on the rest on 25 December and two years later Aberdeen became the last non-Old Firm team to hold that position.

Now, more than three decades later, Hearts are guaranteed to be number one on Christmas Day.

Celtic's 2-1 defeat at Dundee United on Wednesday night means Derek McInnes' side remain six points clear of the defending champions, who have played a game fewer.

Hearts have one game remaining before Christmas - and it's a humdinger as third-place and improving Rangers come to Tynecastle on Sunday.

Hearts have already won away to Celtic and Rangers this season for the first time in almost 40 years. Now they are bidding to rectify a record of no league wins over Rangers at home since January 2020.

What's more, if Hearts get the job done on Sunday, they'll become the first team to win four consecutive top-flight games against the two Old Firm clubs since Dundee in 1985.

To get to this point, Hearts have only lost one league game this season (a 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen in November) and have beaten nine of the 11 teams.

The only sides McInnes' men have failed to defeat are Motherwell, drawing against them twice, while they've only played St Mirren once and that was a 2-2 stalemate in Paisley.

Thirty four years ago, Queen remained top of the charts until 19 January - but McInnes will be hoping Hearts can last a lot longer than that.

• After their 2-0 win in September, Hearts are looking to earn back-to-back top-flight victories over Rangers for the first time since April 1996.

• Rangers are unbeaten in eight league visits to Hearts (W6 D2) since a 2-1 defeat in January 2020 under Steven Gerrard.

• Hearts remain the only side to have won against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this season; on only three previous occasions have the Ibrox side suffered both of their first two league defeats of a season to the same opponent, doing so in 1936-37 (Hearts), 1990-91 (Dundee United), and 2001-02 (Celtic).

• This is Rangers' final away league game of 2025, while they are unbeaten in their 18 matches on the road in the Premiership (W9 D9). Should they avoid defeat here, it will be the seventh time they have completed a calendar year without losing an away league game, after 1897 (seven games), 1899 (seven), 1920 (19), 1967 (17), 1973 (15), and 2013 (17).

• Hearts have won all three of their league meetings with Celtic (two) and Rangers (one) this season. The last side to win four consecutive top-flight clashes with the two Old Firm clubs were Dundee from February to September 1985.

Former Aberdeen manager Barry Robson, recently sacked by Raith Rovers, was pictured alongside Heart of Midlothian head coach Derek McInnes at a first-team training session at the Oriam on Wednesday. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts have had no approaches to take Craig Gordon on loan and the Scotland goalkeeper is "too important" for the Scottish Premiership leaders in any case, head coach Derek McInnes has revealed.

The 43-year-old has yet to play for the Edinburgh club this season after Alexander Schwolow cemented his place following the German's arrival from Union Berlin while Gordon was injured.

Gordon regained his Scotland place in recent World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Denmark and will be keen for club playing time before this summer's tournament in North America.

But McInnes insisted "nobody's asked" about his availability.

"Craig's too important for us," he said. "We're fortunate we've got good goalkeepers here.

"If we want to do what we want to do this season, we want to have the strongest squad possible. I'm just glad he's fit and available and there to be called upon if we need him, because you just never know when that will be the case."

Meanwhile, McInnes had an update on the expected arrival of new signing Islam Chesnokov following the end of the Kazakhstan winger's contract with Tobol in his homeland.

"He is due in just after Christmas in the intention to bed him in for training," he said. "And hopefully the paperwork goes accordingly that we can get him available for Livingston [3 January].

"There's no guarantees with that, because we don't control that, but we're trying to tick all the boxes and jump through all the right hoops to get that to the stage."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Hearts host Rangers in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key lines from the Hearts boss:

• Injured pair Beni Baningime and Calem Nieuwenhof are both "close to being available" for the game. McInnes adds: "Great to have both boys kind of there or thereabouts."

• McInnes says a meeting this week with SFA referees chief Willie Collum and other Premiership managers - where 20 clips were watched and discussed - went well and he hopes these talks can happen "more regularly".

• He adds that Collum spoke about "how they're trying to improve as a department, how they are using analysts now to try and see what clubs are doing and educate the referees to what to look out for" and give them a "more rounded outlook".

• McInnes says managers are usually "fighting against each other" on a matchday so it was "quite refreshing" to "relax" together and talk through certain issues.

• He adds: "It's not VAR that's the issue, it's how we use VAR" and "the clear and obvious error is what we forget about".

• Khazakstan winger Islam Chesnokov is expected to arrive just after Christmas and McInnes hopes to have him available for a debut against Livingston on 3 January.

• McInnes says no clubs have been in touch about taking Craig Gordon on loan and he is reluctant to lose the Scotland goalkeeper because he is "too important" despite not having played for Hearts this season.

• On Josh McPake, McInnes says talks remain ongoing with the St Johnstone forward over a move to Tynecastle next summer.

Steve Clarke has advised some of his Scotland players to look into loan moves for game time, but not veteran Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Dundee manager Steven Pressley believes Motherwell as well as Hearts are the Scottish Premiership's shining lights this term. (Record), external

Heart of Midlothian have had the biggest squad value rise (£1.95m) in the Scottish Premiership this season, becoming the third most valuable club - and, although Celtic and Rangers remain the most valuable, the Old Firm duo are the biggest losers (£5.4m and £9.1m respectively). (Transfermarkt), external

Celtic centre-half Liam Scales, Hearts forward Claudio Braga and Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama all received £900,000 upgrades in value since the start of the season. (Transfermarkt), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

There is a strange air in Gorgie now - confidence.

And Derek McInnes deserves credit for instilling that following a sticky period. Away wins at Celtic and Falkirk have Hearts beating again.

There are so many players to like at Tynecastle, helped by having a 31-man squad. It's probably easier to say which players aren't having songs sung about them.

I'll avoid the obvious names but guys like Michael Steinwender and Tomas Magnusson, who have had to spend much of this campaign not playing, have been fantastic in the past two games.

Their performances are helping instil that belief in the Jamestown Analytics recruitment model before the January transfer window.

With Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov to join next month, and St Johnstone forward Josh McPake seemingly all but agreed to join in the summer, the rumour mill is coming up with some interesting names.

I've heard about a Scottish right-back joining on loan, another Brazilian that has bagged goals in an Eastern European league, and Hearts about to smash our transfer record for the second time in six months on the next Erling Haaland from Norway.

One thing is for sure - we're looking forward to the next six months with optimism rather than the doom and gloom we had under a year ago.

The Rangers game on Sunday will again be an acid test and could, unbelievably, see us pick up 12 points from 12 versus the Old Firm this season.

Jambos should be looking forward to the occasion. I trust that Del and his coaching staff will have a plan in place to target remedying our poor record against Rangers at Tynecastle.

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Former sporting director Joe Savage expects Hearts to "flex their muscles" with new arrivals in the January transfer window.

The Scottish Premiership leaders have agreed a deal for Kazakhstan international winger Islam Chesnokov and made a pre-contract approach for St Johnstone forward Josh McPake.

Savage, who left Tynecastle in July 2024, is sure the club will also be chasing a new right-back.

"Hearts are in a position of strength at the moment, so I think you'll see them flex their muscles here," Savage told the BBC Scotland Football Podcast.

"I think they can win the league. The last two results have been brilliant [wins away to Celtic and Falkirk]. They'll be quietly confident.

"If they can finish second, it's still a brilliant season, but now they've already beaten Celtic twice and they've beaten Rangers.

"With the Jamestown Analytics, they are able to identify players from their rating three or four months in advance, so Hearts already know who they are trying to sign.

"They're already ahead of Celtic and Rangers, who have new managers.

"Chesnokov, they've been after for a long time and he's meant to be one of the best players in Kazakhstan.

"Clearly, there's a need for a right-back."

Meanwhile, former Celtic and Kilmarnock striker Cillian Sheridan reckons Hearts head coach Derek McInnes won't want to risk too many changes, given their record of just one defeat in 17 league outings.

"I don't think Hearts will do loads," he said.

"Derek McInnes is big on people and characters and squads. I don't think he'll be looking to upset too many things.

"He'll look to strengthen where he can but they don't have the same desperate need as Celtic and Rangers."

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Steve Clarke has spoken with several Scotland squad members about investigating loan moves to address the issue of playing time, including Angus Gunn, but not fellow goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who is yet to feature for Hearts this season. (The Scotsman), external

Sportscene pundit Stephen Craigan says Stephen Kingsley's impact off the bench for Hearts in their 2-0 win over Falkirk demonstrates the strength in depth which has propelled Derek McInnes' side to the top of the league.

"We keep asking, can Hearts stay in the title race? Can they stay in the fight?," Craigan said.

"When you're bring players like Stephen Kingsley off the bench - he could easily be a Scotland international [again] with the way he's played in the past few seasons.

"He doesn't score many tap-ins. He sets himself up perfectly and the goal killed Falkirk off. Hearts managed the game well, they are secure in the core of their team."

Stephen Kingsley says Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts go "into any game knowing" they can win. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription require), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Watch all the highlights as Hearts extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to six points with a win over Falkirk.

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Derek McInnes stresses his Hearts side "are not all that" despite moving six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table with Saturday night's 2-0 win over Falkirk.

Second-placed Celtic, who are in League Cup action this weekend, now have two games in hand on the Tynecastle club.

But the Hearts boss was delighted to pick up another vital three points in a tricky venue.

"I think we had more possession, more shots, more corners but on a night like this it just needed us to be single-minded with our approach and just deal with what was in front of us," he said.

"I think a lot of teams would have slipped up here. I'm not trying to say we're all that, because we're not, but the conditions were difficult – it's Scottish football, it's December – and it's just important you get back on the bus with the job done.

"To get a clean sheet against a team who normally create a lot of chances, I think my keeper's only had one save, we had to do a lot right to keep them away from our goal and we deserve a lot of credit for that."

Claudio Braga had given Hearts the lead after two minutes in Falkirk and Stephen Kingsley added a second after 77 minutes to make it a more comfortable end to the game.

"I'm so blessed that I've inherited so many good players and Stephen Kingsley's one of them," McInnes added.

"It's a wee reminder of how much quality he's got.

"I'm delighted for him. I was delighted when the second goal went in because it takes a bit of oxygen away from Falkirk and we got over the line quite comfortably in the end."

We asked for your thoughts after Hearts extended their lead at the top of the Premiership table to six points.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Ian: Hearts ground out a result in terrible conditions. Two quality goals that merited a win. Beginning to believe we can go all the way.

George: Every player deserves credit for a solid professional performance in dreadful conditions. It's winning games like this one that result in rewards come the seasons end.

Derek: Great result in bad weather - another goal for Claudio Braga, and a screamer from Stephen Kingsley! Falkirk are no mugs, and we far from strolled that match, but you feel there was more goals for Hearts in it. I admit to being worried we would fall away at the death again, like we did against Killie, but we dug in, and got the result. Rain and wind aside, we took the few chances we had, and put aside another club with very little aplomb. On another, clearer night, that would have been a skelping, but fair play Falkirk, they made us work for the points.

Jim: Superb performance from Hearts in atrocious weather conditions. This could have been a banana skin for us but the team stuck in to a man.

Alan: Job done, it is games like these that are potential banana skins and particularly after the Celtic result. Falkirk are a well organised unit and so reassuring to see Hearts manage the game well. Should have scored more but three more points in the bag. Irrespective of how poor Rangers are at present, they are always a threat so need to maintain the pressure with a strong home win.

Jim: Brilliant performance in appalling conditions against a very good Falkirk side. Our next two matches against Rangers and Hibs will define our season for me. Four or six points from these two matches will convince me we are serious Premiership challengers. We have important players to return and join the squad in January but we cannot let up. Every club wants our "scalp," cup finals from now until the season ends. Could there be a finer tribute to Ann Budge's tenure than a Premiership trophy?

St Johnstone midfielder Josh McPake, who is in talks with Hearts over a pre-contract deal, is unlikely to move to Tynecastle before next summer. (Courier), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Manager Derek McInnes says Hearts are in talks with St Johnstone winger Josh McPake about a move next summer.

The Scottish Championship's top scorer, who scored twice in Friday's win over Ayr United, has 13 goals so far this season in all competitions.

The 24-year-old came through the Rangers academy and joined St Johnstone in July 2024 after a spell in League 1 with Stirling Albion.

"I don't know if it's all agreed or where it's at," McInnes told BBC Scotland after his side's 2-0 win over Falkirk.

"But it's a player who is of interest to us. We've been in touch with St Johnstone to notify them.

"It's something we expect to get done. But I can't really comment until that is factual."

McPake is out of contract at the end of the season and is free to sign a deal for next season when the January transfer window opens.

It is not clear whether Hearts are seeking to expedite the move to next month.

McPake had six loan spells while at Rangers before dropping down to the third tier, after which Craig Levein brought him to McDiarmid Park.

He managed one goal in 16 appearances last season as St Johnstone were relegated, but has found form in the second tier.

His 12 league goals have helped fire Saints three points clear at the top of the Championsip after 18 games.

Analysis: 'Penny has dropped for McPake'

Former Hearts striker Lee Miller on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound

He has had a bit of a rollercoaster career so far. But the penny has dropped and he has found a home at St Johnstone. It has allowed him to go and express himself and he has a manager who believes in him and he's reaping the benefits. It'll be a coup for Hearts to get him.

Former Hearts striker Ryan Stevenson on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound

If Jamestown are involved, then amazing, but I think Derek [McInnes] will be massively involved in this signing. Fans love seeing Scottish players coming through. Hopefully he can come in and go from strength to strength.

Goals from Claudio Braga and Stephen Kingsley gave Hearts a precious victory over Falkirk in atrocious conditions as the Scottish Premiership leaders stretched six points clear of Celtic.

What did you make of Hearts' performance?

Have your say.

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Hearts manager Derek McInnes: "It's the type of conditions which can bring a lot of frustration. It's not easy for the players.

"We had to play to the conditions. We had two quality moments for the goals.

"We get off to the perfect start. Good combination play, great strike from Lawrence and Braga following in.

"Then I thought we were guilty of overplaying. We just needed to turn the ball over and keep it simple, play the percentages in the conditions.

"Harry had tidied a mess up on the line but, by and large, I thought we were very professional. We did what needed to be done, especially second half.

"We're just thankful for that second goal. It's a magnificent strike from Stephen.

"A lot of teams would have struggled today. It wasn't pretty. But it's December, it's Scottish football. You've just got to get in get the points, and get out."