Hearts v Inverness CT: Betfred Cup team news, starting XI, how to watch, match odds

Hearts get their 2020/21 campaign underway on Tuesday evening when they welcome Inverness CT to Tynecastle.

Hearts are set to meet Inverness Ct once more in domestic cup competition. Picture: SNS

The Betfred Group stage encounter will be the Jam Tarts first competitive football in 209 days.

The last time the team took to the field in a meaningful fixture was the painful 1-0 defeat to St Mirren back in March, a result which ultimately contributed to the club’s relegation to the Championship.

John Robertson brings his Highlanders down to Tynecastle for a precursor to the start of the league season later this month.

It begins an intense period of football for Neilson’s men with six matches between now and the end of the month when the team play the 2020 Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibs.

Team news: Hearts will be without Michael Smith and Liam Boyce who are on international duty with Northern Ireland. Cammy Logan and Jamie Brandon are in contention to replace the former with Craig Wighton or Steven Naismith playing ahead of the latter. The match is likely too soon for both Andy Halliday and Peter Haring to start but Ben Garuccio is expected to return after missing last week’s friendly with Partick Thistle. Christophe Berra and John Souttar long-term absentees.

Likely line-up: Gordon; Brandon, Halkett, Popescu, Garuccio; Irving, Lee; Roberts, Walker, Frear; Naismith.

Match details: Kick-off 7.45pm, Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh.

How to watch: The game is live on subscription channel Premier Sports 1. For those that miss the game, it is being shown on Freesports at 2pm on Wednesday.

Last meeting: The club's last met in a competitive fixture back in April 2019, the Scottish Cup semi-final. Hearts had already defeated ICT 5-0 that season in the Betfred Cup group stages and would win 3-0 at Hampden Park with goals from Uche Ikpeazu, Sean Clare and John Souttar to set up a final with Celtic.

Key stat: Only one of the starting XI who last faced Inverness is likely to start the match: Olly Lee.

Referee: Steven McLean – the whistler last officiated a Hearts match in February when Daniel Stendel's men defeat Rangers in the Scottish Cup. It was controversial match with plenty of contentious decisions.

Match odds: Hearts 4/7 Draw 31/10 Inverness CT 15/4 (odds supplied by McBookie)