McInnes' Tynecastle return, Goodwin's entertainers & Reedijk eyes first win

A visit from one of Glasgow's big two under the lights at Tynecastle is always something to anticipate. Then you throw in the added spice of this one.

Just four points behind Rangers, Hearts have a fresh opportunity to show last season wasn't a one-off after collapsing in spectacular fashion at Celtic Park 10 days ago.

The Ibrox side's trip to Gorgie on Wednesday also marks the return of McInnes, who came within minutes of leading the Jambos to a historic title triumph in May.

Then came the summer. McInnes was prised away by the Ibrox hierarchy after striker Lawrence Shankland had already made the move to Govan, with midfielder Cammy Devlin following thereafter.

Injured pair Shankland and Devlin will miss the trip back to Tynecastle, but McInnes, who admitted feeling "guilt" about his exit, can probably expect a frosty reception, despite the wonders he worked during his year at the club.

"Well, the hope would be you get on to the pitch and clap the fans and there's an acknowledgement both ways," McInnes said. "But that's not going to happen. I totally understand it, though."

Dundee United are emerging as one of the stories of the season as Goodwin's side continue to thrive following a radical change in style from their manager.

As a coach, and certainly as a player, expansive, continental-inspired football was never really something associated with Goodwin, a Scottish football veteran who has been part of the furniture for more than 16 years.

But the former Aberdeen and St Mirren boss has said he has taken inspiration from Jens Berthel Askou's work at Motherwell last season to reshape himself, and his side are lighting up the league after overcoming a difficult start.

An exhilarating 3-2 victory over Aberdeen in chaotic weather at Tannadice extended United's unbeaten run to five matches, moving them up to fourth.

Now they face the Premiership's acid test: a trip to Celtic Park.

Goodwin has got the better of the champions in two of his past three encounters with them, but both of those victories came at Tannadice last season.

Staggeringly, Celtic are unbeaten in 51 home games against United in all competitions since a 1-0 league defeat in December 1992.

Goodwin will be wary of the way Martin O'Neill's men dismantled a bold Hearts side at Parkhead last time out, but the reinvented Irishman is urging his United players to embrace a trip to the venue where his life in the Scottish game began.

Despite Sunday's narrow defeat by Celtic leaving Hibs rooted to the foot of the Premiership, manager Reedijk says the reaction from supporters after the game told him "we are in the right way".

Former midfielder Kevin Thomson also believes his old club will come good under the Dutchman, so will Paisley prove to be the place where Reedijk's reign ignites after three straight defeats?

The Leith club travel to face a St Mirren side who ended their own wretched run by defeating Dundee on Saturday, bringing a five-game losing streak to an end.

The fact Hibs have lost on only two of their past 14 Premiership visits to St Mirren is perhaps a good omen for Reedijk, although fans remain unconvinced that the team's current plight can be turned around.

The desperate but box-office tactical decision to bring on centre-back Grant Hanley as a striker on Sunday raised red flags for some supporters, but Reedijk says it is not something people can expect to see again.

Instead, the new boss wants the progress he insists he is seeing to continue, but only a much-needed victory will prevent Halloween from becoming a whole lot scarier for a concerned fanbase.

"The positivity in the club is really good," Reedijk said in the build-up to Wednesday's match. "The second thing is we have also shown there is progress.

"Again, I'm a believer that the results will come. Do we need a win and a result? Yes, I understand that it's football."