Celtic arrive at Tynecastle with renewed purpose

The win over SK Sturm Graz on Thursday night did more than keep our Europa League campaign alive, it breathed belief back into a Celtic support that has been unsure of its footing so far this season.

It was a performance that reminded everyone, players and fans alike, that Celtic can still be hungry, still be inventive and still win those big games.

But the victory came at a cost. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alistair Johnston all emerged with injuries that look set to keep them out for a significant period.

For a squad already light in certain areas, after another underwhelming attempt at recruitment, the timing could hardly be worse. Yet even with those losses, the mood shifted. Because while losing players hurts, losing belief is even more painful, but Celtic showed on Thursday night that belief remains alive.

The win did not just move Celtic upward in Europe, it laid down a foundation to build from in the title defence. And now the next step comes in Edinburgh.

Whether Hearts truly emerge as sustained title challengers remains to be seen. But they have started strongly, there’s no denying that, and that fact is recognised not just in pundit circles or supporter debate, but inside the Celtic dressing room itself.

This season has seen questions asked of Celtic’s recruitment. But one of the early successes, Seb Tounekti, has been at the heart of the renewed energy.

Speaking ahead of the match to BBC Sport, the Tunisian international did not shy away from acknowledging the strength of the opposition.

“The win against Sturm Graz was a must-win and a really important one. A confidence boost. We know we are a good squad and we just have to get going.

Hearts have shown they are a really good team. Yes, 100% they are a title threat. Sunday will be a massive game at a difficult place, but we’re going there to get a result. We have to be at our best.”

There is respect there, and respect tells its own story. Hearts have momentum, they have belief, and they have the advantage of a home crowd and a pitch that can feel like the walls are closing in. Derek McInnes has his players unified, purposeful and tuned into what they are trying to become.

But today is different. Today, instead of building, they must defend. Instead of chasing, they must hold. This is where experiences diverge. This match is not just about league position, it is about knowledge, it is about what happens when ambition collides with experience.

Celtic have lived these matchdays, games where momentum is either reclaimed or lost. Hearts are learning them. Learning how to carry expectation, learning how to shape tense afternoons rather than react to them. This is where gaps can close, this is where gaps can grow, and this is where titles can take shape, or splinter.

If Hearts win, the lead grows and with it comes breathing room, the luxury to absorb mistakes when the grind inevitably arrives. If Celtic win, the gap shrinks to two points, belief grows, and experience resumes its familiar place at the centre of the title conversation. The margins are small, but the implications are vast.

This match may not decide the title, but what it can decide is who carries the story forward from here. Who sets the pace, who shapes the psychology of the months ahead.

Hearts have had a week to prepare. They are rested, and ready to impose themselves. Celtic, on the other hand, arrive carrying injuries, but also carrying something far more important, fresh momentum.

Celtic found their form again in a big pressure game on Thursday night, and they will have found confidence again too. And sometimes, in football, that single jolt, that reminder of who you are, can make all the difference.

At Tynecastle today we will learn a lot about both Celtic and Hearts, and how this season may pan out. It will likely be a telling encounter.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, signed copies by Danny McGrain available from celticstarbooks.com 

Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final book. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain  Danny McGrain PLUS you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, and you’ll only be charged for postage on one book.  Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.