Hearts v Celtic, Skov Olsen and Askou in focus

It is back to the three-way race for the Scottish title for Celtic and Rangers after heartening results in the Europa League on Thursday.

Leaders Heart of Midlothian hosting the reigning champions on Sunday is the obvious big one while Rangers entertain Dundee at the same time (15:00 GMT), but there are plenty of other talking points in three Saturday games too.

Here are the key things to look out for this weekend.

It is an indication of the importance of Sunday’s game that Hearts and Celtic have both been scrambling to acquire new signings to bolster their starting line-ups at Tynecastle.

Not surprising considering the consensus is that January recruitment could be the telling factor in what is now a three-horse race for the title.

Doubly so for Hearts considering they have lost possibly their two most key players in captain Lawrence Shankland and midfield dynamo Cammy Devlin to lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Hearts paid a fee to hasten the arrival of Rogers Mato, who was due to arrive in the summer, from North Macedonian leaders Vardar, but it is touch and go whether the paperwork will be complete in time for the Uganda forward to face Celtic.

However, former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Marc Leonard could make his debut on Sunday after signing on loan from Birmingham City. Forest Green Rovers rejected an approach for their captain, Laurent Mendy, earlier in the week.

Celtic, meanwhile, have plugged their striker gap by Thursday’s arrival of Czech Republic international Tomas Cvancara on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach, a move made more timely by Johnny Kenny picking up an injury in their 2-2 draw in Bologna.

Having to play almost an hour with 10 men in Bologna on Thursday after the dismissal of Reo Hatate will test Celtic’s power of recovery, as will the concession of a 2-0 half-time lead.

Hearts, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s surprise penalty shoot-out exit in the Scottish Cup at home to Falkirk.

That ended a run of 12 home games without defeat this season, but Derek McInnes’ side remain in pole position in the league, six points ahead of both Celtic and Rangers.

Win on Sunday and they will become the first Hearts side to have beaten Celtic three times in a single league campaign – a statement feat that will answer critics who doubt their sustainability given their injury problems.

They would also become the first side other than Rangers to beat Celtic in three successive league meetings since Aberdeen in 1990.

However, Celtic arrive revived, having won all seven of their league games during Martin O’Neill’s two spells as interim manager following the exits of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy.

Amazingly, though, Celtic have lost each of their last five away league games against opponents starting the day top of the table – and two of those were against Hearts, in August 2018 and last October.

Meanwhile, an equally revived Rangers under Danny Rohl are waiting in the wings and the side sitting third behind Celtic on goal difference will be favourites to make it eight wins in a row and avoid a repeat of the 1-1 draw against Dundee at Ibrox under previous head coach Russell Martin.

Danny Rohl’s slow Rangers revolution takes a further turn at Ibrox on Saturday, when Denmark winger Andreas Skov Olsen could make his debut while fellow new signing Tochi Chukwuani could make his first start.

It will be the first real test for Chukwuani considering the 22-year-old defensive midfielder’s first half hour of action since being signed by Sturm Graz came as a substitute in a 5-0 Scottish Cup stroll against third-tier Alloa Athletic.

At least the Ibrox crowd have had a taste of what he can do, so they will be more eagerly anticipating the introduction of fellow Dane Skov Olsen against Dundee.

There will be a lot of expectation about the former Bologna and Club Brugge 26-year-old who has 40 caps for his country.

However, he has only made eight appearances for Wolfsburg this season, hence why he is out on loan to recover his mojo.

The Nordic connection could be stronger still if Thelo Aasgaard in the line-up again, with the Norway midfielder having scored in three of his last four starts in the Premiership, including both of his last two at Ibrox.

Not only that, but like Skov Olsen, Ivory Coast midfielder Mohamed Diomande, who scored the only goal in Thursday’s Europa League win over Ludogorets, made his professional debut with Danish club Nordsjaelland.

Jens Berthel Askou has quickly gone from unknown quantity to being labelled Scottish football’s tactical genius in the seven months since he was appointed Motherwell manager.

So much so that the 43-year-old Dane has been linked with the vacancy at Premiership rivals Aberdeen and even with the Celtic hotseat once Martin O’Neill’s latest interim spell in charge ends this summer.

The Scottish champions’ fans might demand a more high-profile name, while Askou himself might not consider a move to the Dons a step up given his side are currently fourth in table and have left their richer rivals four places and 12 points in their wake.

While his spells in charge of Vendsyssel, Torshavn, Horsens and IFK Gothenburg were fairly short-lived, he also appears to be the kind of character who will view Motherwell as a project that has only just begun – and one he wishes to see bear even greater fruits.

However, you can be sure his progress since leaving his post as Copenhagen assistant after only six months is making other clubs take notice.

It was the exciting, free-flowing, possession-based football that initially caught the eye, but the results have also started to follow and a highest league finish since now St Mirren boss Robinson led them to third in 2019-20 looks within their capabilities.

Considering Askou’s side have suffered only one defeat in 13 outings, have won five in a row at home and are unbeaten in seven there without conceding a goal, he will be confident of consolidating their position after Kilmarnock’s visit on Saturday.

Especially so given the visitors have not won at Fir Park in nine visits and, having shown no signs of a new manager bounce since Neil McCann took over from Stuart Kettlewell, arrive without a victory in 16 games overall after last weekend’s cup exit at home to Dundee.