Sunday's Scottish Premiership team news
2025-01-04
Category: sports

A full programme of six Scottish Premiership fixtures are scheduled for Sunday.Leaders Celtic will look to get back on track after their Old Firm defeat as they host St Mirren, second-placed Rangers visit Hibernian, while there are home games for third-placed Dundee United, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and bottom side St Johnstone.Here is the latest team news.Kick-off 15:00 GMT unless stated.
Hibernian v Rangers (12:00)
Hibernian expect to have Elie Youan back following a foot injury, while fellow forward Mykola Kuharevich and midfielder Joe Newell face fitness checks after missing recent matches with groin issues.Marvin Ekpiteta and Kieron Bowie are still out.Rangers captain James Tavernier remains on the sidelines beside fellow defenders John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo. Goalkeeper Jack Butland and centre-half Leon Balogun are unlikely to return, while midfielder Tom Lawrence continues his return to fitness.Young defender Robbie Fraser was a substitute against Celtic on Thursday but has since joined Livingston on loan.
Motherwell v Aberdeen (14:30)
Motherwell striker Apostolos Stamatelopolous is a major doubt with a strain and Lennon Miller, Steve Seddon, Ross Callachan, Callum Slattery and Zach Robinson remain out.Aberdeen striker Ester Sokler went off injured on Thursday and will be assessed, but centre-half Slobodan Rubezic and midfielders Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Ante Palaversa are all back from suspension.Goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov has been ruled out for four weeks following his recent return from a hamstring injury, while Vicente Besuijen, Jack Milne and Pape Habib Gueye are still sidelined.
Celtic v St Mirren
Celtic midfielder Arne Engels could start after illness restricted him to a late appearance against Rangers. Winger James Forrest remains out through injury.Goalkeeper Zach Hemming is vying for a start after returning to St Mirren on loan from Middlesbrough, but incumbent Ellery Balcombe himself remains on loan from Brentford.Forward Conor McMenamin is a doubt, while centre-half Charles Dunne remains out.
Dundee United v Heart of Midlothian
Dundee United hope to have midfielder David Babunski back from illness. Louis Moult and Craig Sibbald remain out.Hearts hope to have winger Elton Kabangu, who has signed from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, registered in time to be involved, while centre-half Jamie McCart has been signed from Rotherham United.But captain Lawrence Shankland is facing several weeks out with a calf strain.Frankie Kent, Stephen Kingsley, Calem Nieuwenhof and Gerald Taylor are still out injured.
Kilmarnock v Ross County
Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell was taken to hospital with a shin injury after the new-year win over St Mirren. But fellow forward Marley Watkins is expected to return and winger Danny Armstrong is back from suspension. Matty Kennedy is battling a back problem, while Stuart Findlay is a long-term absentee.Ross County will check on the fitness of Michee Efete and Ryan Leak after the defenders went off injured in Thursday's win at Aberdeen. On-loan midfielder Aidan Denholm is back at parent club Hearts to have a hamstring injury assessed, while Eli Campbell, Ross Laidlaw, Will Nightingale and Alex Samuel miss out.
St Johnstone v Dundee
St Johnstone will be without midfielder Jason Holt through suspension, but striker Makenzie Kirk hopes to return following a minor niggle. Barry Douglas, Uche Ikpeazu, Sam McClelland and Cammy MacPherson are set to remain sidelined, while centre-half Kyle Cameron has had his loan deal from Notts County cut short.Dundee are missing defenders Billy Koumetio, Ziyad Larkeche, Jordan McGhee Antonio Portales and Joe Shaughnessy, while midfielder Scott Fraser is also still out.