Celtic test for Naismith’s Jambos

Hearts travel to Parkhead on Saturday (kick-off 15.00), the scene of one of their most memorable wins so far this season, a 2-0 victory on December 16.

Lawrence Shankland (pictured) opened the scoring after 15 minutes and Stephen Kingsley added a second on 30 minutes and the Jambos held on to take the points.

The Glasgow side go into the this game after a 2-1 win at Dens Park against Dundee thanks to a double from James Forrest while Steven Naismith’s men took a point in a no-score draw at Kilmarnock.

The Parkhead outfit still lead the cinch Premiership table with 81 points from 34 starts, three ahead of Old Firm rivals, Rangers, and Brendan Rodgers can’t afford any slip-ups in the run-in to the championship.

The Bhoys have scored 82 goals – eight more than Rangers – and shipped 27 so far in the league – three more than Rangers – while Hearts have scored 46 and conceded 34.

The last time the teams met was on March 3 at Tynecastle when Hearts won 2-0 and the head-to-head record between the club sees Celtic with three wins and Hearts with two in the last five games.

Hearts next home fixture is against Dundee on Saturday, May 11 (15.00) followed by a visit to Paisley to play St Mirren on Wednesday, May 15 (19.45) and their final league game of the season is at home to Rangers on May 18 (12.30).

Meanwhile, Shankland is in the frame to be Scotland’s Player of the Year in the SPFA Awards, the 28-year-old having scored 21 goals in 33 matches in tthe cinch Premiership this term.

Other nominees are Matt O’Riley (Celtic),, James Tavernier (Rangers) and Jack Butland (Rangers).