Dunfermline Athletic v Hearts: Team news, likely starting XI, how to watch, match odds

Hearts travel to East End Park on Friday evening looking to move top of the Scottish Championship table – for at least 19 hours.

Hearts were last in action against East Fife in the Betfred Cup. Picture: SNS

Robbie Neilson’s men have won all three league games so far but sit in third place on account of playing one game fewer than Stevie Crawford’s opponents and league-leaders Raith Rovers.

A victory would push them to the summit heading into Saturday’s matches, where Raith travel to Inverness CT.

Team news: Robbie Neilson is expected to welcome as many as seven players back into the fold. Craig Gordon, Michael Smith and Liam Boyce return from international duty having missed last week’s Betfred Cup clash with East Fife. Though how much the latter two will feature having played for Northern Ireland two days before remains to be seen. Elsewhere, Jamie Walker, Andy Halliday, Josh Ginnelly and Jordan Roberts are all expected to return to contention after injury.

Possible line-up (4-2-3-1): Gordon; Brandon, Halkett, Popescu, Kingsley; Irving, Haring; Ginnelly, Naismith, Roberts; Wighton. Subs from: Stewart, Smith, Berra, White, Halliday, Lee, Frear, Walker, McGill, Henderson, Moore, Zlamal.

Match details: Kick-off 7.45pm, East End Park, Dunfermline

How to watch: The match is live on BBC Scotland. Coverage starts at 7.30pm. A pay-per-view stream is still available from the home side via www.parstv.co.uk.

Key stat: Hearts are the only team in Scottish football so far this season with a 100 per cent record, winning eight contests out of eight.

Referee: Don Robertson has yet to oversee a Hearts game but he did officiate Dunfermline’s 4-1 victory away to Alloa Athletic earlier in the Scottish Championship campaign.

Odds: Dunfermline 15/4, Draw 9/4, Hearts 5/6

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