Heart of Midlothian

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Chief executive Andrew McKinlay is hoping Hearts can "really put a marker" down by moving eight points clear at the top of the Premiership this weekend.

Derek McInnes' unbeaten early pacesetters have the incentive of opening up the biggest lead the club have enjoyed in the Premiership this century as they host floundering champions Celtic, who are reeling from defeat at Dundee.

"I know Celtic will come here all guns blazing, they're not a club that like what happened to them last weekend, they won't take it lightly, they've obviously got a European game coming [against Sturm Graz] on Thursday," McKinlay said in a club interview.

"But we should go into this, and we will go into this, with huge huge confidence.

"I don't think there'll be any talk of free hits or anything like that. That's not the way I see it, I know it won't be the way Derek or the players see it.

"They'll see it as a huge opportunity to really put a marker down, and I really hope we can do it.

"We've got as good a chance as we've had in a long time to really show that we deserve to be where we are at the top of the league, and I'd love it if we could obviously continue there for for a long time to come."

It has been speculated that if Hearts are in position to challenge for the title come January then investor Tony Bloom will add extra funds for new recruits.

But McKinlay says that would not be the case.

"Yes, we'll have the benefit of of Jamestown Analytics and that is massively important to allow us to kick on if we do feel we need new players in January or indeed next summer," he added.

"But there's been some talk about how if we're in a really great position that Bloom will put more money into the club to invest further. But I think it's important I just emphasise that Tony's not actually in a position to do that.

"He said this himself in August at the beginning of the season, just to do with Uefa rules [about dual ownership], so I just wanted to make sure people do understand that, but I'm very confident that we will have a squad coming out of January that will allow us to to give ourselves the best opportunity as we move through the rest of the season."

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No club outside the Old Firm have won the title in 40 years - but Chris Sutton insists Hearts can sensationally end that stranglehold this season.

Derek McInnes' side extended their unbeaten start and lead at the top by swatting aside Kilmarnock 3-0 last Saturday for a seventh win in eight games to go five points clear of Celtic.

Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in 1985 were the last top-flight winner outside Rangers and Celtic, but former Celtic striker Sutton believes the Tynecastle club's challenge is the real deal.

"Hearts have had an incredible start to the season and I think they can win the title this year, I really do," he told The Monday Night Club.

"Partly because of the way they have recruited, partly because of the manager, partly because of their form and partly because of the way Rangers and Celtic are playing, and at this moment of time, I don't see a way out for them until January.

"Hearts have got themselves into a handsome position, they're pretty clear at the top and they don't have European football to contend with as Rangers and Celtic do.

"There's a lot of things pointing in Hearts' favour and with Jamestown Analytics and Tony Bloom, they might go again in the transfer market in January and bring another couple of gems in, because they recruited well in the summer.

"It was a really impressive win at the weekend against Kilmarnock on a plastic pitch, they have beaten Rangers at Ibrox this season, won the Edinburgh derby and they are a well-balanced team.

"They play Celtic this weekend and at the moment I don't think there are many Celtic fans out there that think they are capable of beating them."

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Head coach Derek McInnes believes high-flying Hearts are "annoying" Scottish football as his side sit five points clear at the top of the table.

The Tynecastle club are unbeaten in the Premiership after eight fixtures with seven wins and a draw and face second-place Celtic at home on Sunday.

There has not been a top-flight winner in Scotland outside the Old Firm since Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in 1985, but McInnes wants to continue to cause upset for the rest of the season.

When asked about the possibility of ending the Glasgow duopoly, the former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock manager told talkSPORT: "I'd feel more comfortable to answer that type of question around Christmas and January.

"At the minute, the only thing that's on is us being off to a strong start and can we maintain it.

"There's so many people out there who are desperate for us to fail.

"I think guys like yourself, the media and a lot of other people from outwith would love to see a challenger try and break that monopoly and I get that, but equally every club we play against now are the club that is desperate to stop us.

"Rangers and Celtic and everybody else, they'll start to get a wee bit annoyed with us if we keep winning games and I do think we're annoying people at the minute and hopefully we can keep doing that.

"I always believe that there's a chance that a club outwith Rangers and Celtic can have that special season.

"Now, whether it's Hearts, whether it's other clubs that can achieve that, you've always got to try and work towards that.

"We have had a strong start, but the season is in this infancy, we're only eight games down.

"I'm not trying to downplay it, but there's got to be a reality here that, whether you've played poorly or whether you've started the season as well as we have, I think it will be after the first couple of rounds of games, that's around Christmas and new year, that you start to get idea of where everybody's at."

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Former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan says that although it's still a "long stretch" for his former club to win the league, fans will love the hope that their electric start has given them.

If Hearts beat Celtic next week and extend their lead at the top of the Premiership to eight points, he says it will be interesting to see if the Old Firm clubs are able to respond.

"A lot of Hearts fans are feeling very confident," said McGowan on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"If you asked them deep down, they would think it's still a long stretch to win the league, and I think everyone knows that.

"But I think what fans love, and what every season they hope for is to have what the Hearts fans are feeling just now.

"That sense of feeling like the club's going in the right direction, feeling you can't wait for the next game. That's what every football fan wants from their club.

"They're enjoying the style of play. They're enjoying the players that have been brought in who are previously unknowns. A lot of them are really good and have started really well, and have taken to the league.

"They're fully confident behind the manager.

"If they win next week and that goes to eight points, it will be really interesting to see how Celtic and Rangers adapt to it."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Hearts continued their winning form in the Premiership and added three more goals to their tally to defeat Kilmarnock on Saturday. They've got three players in my team of the week.

An inspirational figure both at the back and up front for the Tynecastle club, Craig Halkett has now scored three goals in three games. He has always been a good player but seems to have found another level since Derek McInnes took over.

A Tasmanian Devil of industry and graft in the Hearts midfield, Cammy Devlin's form is reflected in his recall to the Australia squad. He has become a key component of all that's right for Hearts right now.

Claudio Braga now has eight goals this season following his brace against Killie. The 25-year-old plays with real personality and a smile on his face - no wonder given the way things are going at the top of the table. A fans' favourite with his own Queen anthem "Radio Ga Ga" chant, will he continue his form and put Celtic "Under Pressure" next weekend?

Watch the Sportscene team discuss Hearts' impressive start to the season as they move five points clear.

Watch highlights as Hearts made it five wins in a row as they eased past Stuart Kettlewell's Kilmarnock.

We asked for your thoughts after Hearts' 3-0 win over Kilmarnock.

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

Liam: We shall not be moved! Another professional performance. From minute 15 to 70 it was the most complete, dominant away performance I have seen from Hearts for many a year. Cammy Devlin was superb, he was everywhere. The selfless running of Lawrence Shankland, Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis give defenders nightmares. A superb away win against a decent side. Sets up a cracker at Tynie next Sunday.

Peter: The manner of this win is very important. Hearts were far from flawless but seemed to know they will make and take chances. Kilmarnock are a very good side and did well, but we were better and faster. I like the fact that Derek McInnes sees what needs improved and he is the man to do it. Craig Halkett is outstanding this season, Braga is brilliant.

Callum: Good performance and great result against an awkward opponent. Some excellent individual displays and mental fortitude across the team to maintain our ultimate aspirations. My only real niggle with McInnes is that whilst I understand the importance and benefits of the same players having time to gel into a more synchronous unit, I would like him to use the bench more and earlier. We could have got a lot more minutes in for players who have been picking up splinters and will be here beyond this season. Looking forward to Sunday.

John: I still don't think we are anywhere near the finished article and that's the good thing - there is more to come. That's what should worry the rest of the league. Lots to improve on but unbeaten, five points clear, scoring for fun and with massive backing from the fans makes it an incredible time to be a Jambo! Bring on the Celtic!

Terry: Great result on a terrible pitch, made up for my "famous" Killie pie being cold. Best squad assembled since Graham Rix's wheeling and dealing. No reason we can't get second.

Stuart: Never seen a Hearts team look so confident after going ahead, a joy to watch, still don't think we will challenge for the title but second is achievable.

Craig Halkett's third goal in three games and a Claudio Braga double secured a 3-0 win at head coach Derek McInnes made a triumphant return to Kilmarnock as Hearts moved five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Hearts fans will be getting excited, especially as second-top reigning champions Celtic are next up.

Read Clive Lindsay's match report.

And give us your thoughts.

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes insisted that "no-one is getting carried away" despite his side's 3-0 win taking them five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

"In the first half, the first 15 minutes or so, Kilmarnock asked questions of us," he said.

"I thought we played our way into the game and the goal came at a good time.

"I didn't think there was much in it first half, but when their press came on, we started to engage with our strikers and scored a couple of good goals.

"The last 20 minutes were quite enjoyable as you have options from the bench to freshen it up, see it out and make sure it's not too dramatic.

"It looked straightforward in the end, but until the third goal went in, it wasn't."

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Kilmarnock striker Djenairo Daniels is likely to be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury picked up on international duty. Marley Watkins is working his way back from a heel injury while Jamie Brandon, Matty Kennedy and Tom Lowery remain out.

Hearts have Christian Borchgrevink and Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) pushing for a return, but Ageu (hamstring) and Frankie Kent (knee) will remain out for another week. Ryan Fulton (groin) and Finlay Pollock (hamstring) are still missing.

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Scott Fraser has been hugely impressed by the work done at Hearts by head coach Derek McInnes, with his former team "absolutely flying" at the top of the Premiership.

The Tynecastle side are unbeaten in seven league games and sit two points above champions Celtic.

McInnes takes his team to third-placed Kilmarnock on Saturday, having left Rugby Park at the end of last season.

Hearts cast the net wide in search of players over the summer, with arrivals from an assortment of leagues across Europe.

Portuguese forward Claudio Braga came from Norway, Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis was in Slovakia, Burkina Faso international Pierre Landry Kabore was found in Estonia, while Albanian Sabah Kerjota had been playing in the lower reaches of Italian football.

"Recruitment has been quite remarkable, with the players they've brought in and where they've got them from," said Fraser, who spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan with Hearts.

Talking to the BBC Scottish Football Podcast, the Ross County midfielder added: "For them to gel so quickly and take on what Derek and his coaching staff are wanting is a big, big plus."

With Braga and Kyziridis chipping in with important goals, Fraser said: "I think it's taken the burden off Lawrence Shankland to be the main goalscorer.

"And we still haven't seen Ageu [the club's record signing who is making his way back from injury]. The way Derek talks, he's going to be an important player for them.

"Then there are guys like Craig Halkett and Harry Milne, who have been revelations this season, and that's testament to the coaching."

Heart of Midlothian intend to offer 30-year-old centre-half Craig Halkett a new contract as reward for becoming one of the Scottish Premiership leaders' mainstays again this season and there is a will on both sides to reach an agreement following initial talks. (Edinburgh Evening News), external