Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Celtic (Live on Sky Sports, 12.45pm)
Caley Thistle will be without midfielder Richie Foran after his red card at Tynecastle last weekend and Owain Tudor Jones serves the second game of his ban. Celtic will have Charlie Mulgrew available following his domestic suspension. Caley Thistle have won only two of their 21 league meetings with Celtic and lost all four games against them last season.
Dundee v Ross County
Clydesdale Bank Premier League bottom club Dundee are the only club in the division yet to score a goal. They will also be looking to overcome the disappointment of last weekend’s Tayside derby in this game against their First Division rivals from last season. There were two County wins and two draws in the four meetings of the sides last season. Dundee will be without midfielder Stephen O’Donnell if his appeal against his red card against Dundee United last Sunday fails, but they are interested in signing former Dundee United midfielder Mark Kerr.
Hibernian v St Johnstone
Hibs gave themselves a boost with their win over St Mirren last week but second-bottom Saints have Gregory Tade and Rowan Vine back in contention after their suspensions, while Craig Beattie should also be back after missing out last week with a virus. However Chris Millar (hamstring) and Murray Davidson (knee) are both sidelined for the next few weeks. Hibs have won only one of the last six Easter Road meeetings of the sides.
Kilmarnock v Dundee United
United got a boost with the news that wide man Gary Mackay Steven doesn’t need an immediate operation on a knee injury and he has an outside chance of being fit, while Johnny Russell’s availability will depend on the success of his appeal against his ordering-off in the Tayside derby last Sunday. Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell is out for ten weeks with a broken bone in his hand, which he sustained against Motherwell last weekend. Garry Hay and Paul Heffernan are also recovering from operations. Six of the last nine meetings of the sides have ended in draws, with United winning the other three.
Aberdeen v Hearts (Sunday)
Hearts will be without winger David Templeton as he serves the second match of his two-game suspension. The Edinburgh club had some good news with ‘keeper Mark Ridgers not requiring surgery but he will still be out for three months and they have signed former St Johnstone stopper Peter Enckleman on a six-month deal as cover. Aberdeen have a doubt over midfielder Stephen Hughes who was injured against Morton in midweek. They haven’t scored in their last four Pittodrie meetings with Hearts and haven’t won any of the last seven games between the clubs.
Motherwell v St Mirren (Sunday)
St Mirren defender Darren McGregor is out for the remainder of the season after suffering more cruciate ligament damage against Hibs last weekend but Lewis Guy is available after serving a suspension. Motherwell also have defender Stevie Hammell back after his ban. Two of last season’s three meetings ended in draws – and there has been only one home win in the last six games between them.
By cbfootball.co.uk Last updated:
23 August 2012