The three big questions over Hearts XI to face Celtic

Last weekend they fell to a 5-0 defeat at Rangers before a 1-1 draw in Gorgie with an improved Hibs side on Wednesday. This will be one of only two league fixtures over the next few weeks with Greenock Morton in the Scottish Cup and an international break coming up.

Our writers Joel Sked and James Cairney discuss the possible starting XI as Hearts look to get back to winning ways.

READ MORE: Hearts injury latest: Frankie Kent sidelined for Celtic clash and Yutaro Oda update

JOEL SKED

The big question that will need to be answered is how Steven Naismith copes with the absence of Frankie Kent? It is a topic I covered earlier today, looking at the centre-back's importance to the team and what are the options available to the Hearts boss. The first thing to consider is whether he will go with a back three or back four.

Hearts struggled in the back four in the previous meeting between the sides at Tynecastle Park with the defence pulled apart too easily. A third centre-back would provide the team with a stronger foundation and the three centre-backs available to Naismith provide a good balance. Toby Sibbick and Kye Rowles are better in a back three, while Stephen Kingsley is capable of playing the middle of the back three. He's had a very steady campaign and should be viewed as a centre-back rather than left-back.

Another big question is the makeup of the midfield. Beni Baningime's ball-playing qualities were missed against Hibs. Calem Nieuwenhof has made himself undroppable. He was the team's best player in the derby. That effectively leaves one spot. Jorge Grant or Cammy Devlin. Two very different players. The latter would be more disruptive to Celtic and the former has often made a positive impact off the bench.

Naismith is somewhat limited in his forward options with, realistically, Alan Forrest or Kenneth Vargas as a partner to Lawrence Shankland. Forrest played that role well in the win at Celtic Park.

With it being a back three and at home, Dexter Lembikisa could freshen things up at wing-back, providing more pace and directness.

Predicted line-up: Clark; Sibbick, Kingsley, Rowles; Baningime; Lembikisa, Nieuwenhof, Devlin, Cochrane; Shankland, Forrest.

READ MORE: Steven Naismith Q&A: Celtic preparation, Boyce update, Pollock Hearts chance

JAMES CAIRNEY

I suspect we’ll see Naismith return to the 3-5-2 that proved so successful at Celtic Park back in December for this one, albeit with a few changes to the personnel. That victory has to served as the blueprint for Hearts’ strategy on Sunday against the champions, but there is one notable problem position.

With Frankie Kent set to miss out after picking up a knock in the Edinburgh derby and Craig Halkett still sidelined, Naismith finds himself short of options at centre-back. Just three senior players are fit and available – Toby Sibbick, Stephen Kingsley and Kye Rowles – and I think all three will get the nod on Sunday.

If Naismith wants to go with a back three then he doesn’t have much choice in the matter. The only alternative would be to line up with a back four, but I feel this would leave Hearts vulnerable at the back – and I expect Naismith to think along the same lines.

READ MORE: The importance of Frankie Kent - and how Hearts cope with injury news

I’d expect Beni Baningime to start at the base of midfield – he was excellent in the 2-0 win in Glasgow’s east end, and a similar performance will do Hearts’ chances of victory the world of good – and I expect he’ll be joined by Calem Nieuwenhof and Jorge Grant. Nieuwenhof is one of the first names on the team sheet at present and it’s hard to imagine a player with his qualities being overlooked on Sunday, while Grant is the team’s most reliable playmaker. Scott Fraser didn’t take his chance in the derby, and so I think we’ll see Grant come back into the starting line-up.

Up front, it’s a little less clear-cut. Lawrence Shankland will start, and I think he’ll be joined by Alan Forrest on this occasion. Forrest probably doesn’t offer quite as much in the final third as Kenneth Vargas, but he is far safer in possession and gives Hearts a better chance of playing out from the back and beating the Celtic press. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Vargas come off the bench if Hearts require a goal, and this is also one of the few Premiership games where Kyosuke Tagawa is a nice fit, tactically speaking. The Japanese striker hasn’t offered enough to merit a start, but an appearance off the bench could be on the cards.

Predicted line-up: Clark; Sibbick, Kingsley, Rowles; Baningime; Lembikisa, Nieuwenhof, Grant, Cochrane; Shankland, Forrest.