Scottish Premiership
- Venue: Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh
- Date: Wednesday, 30 December
- Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Updates on BSports Radio Scotland 810MW/DAB/online & BSports website
Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (0)
Match Stats
Soufian El Hassnaoui is back in contention for Hearts after recovering from a knee problem ahead of Dundee United's Scottish Premiership visit.
But fellow striker Juanma Delgado serves the second of his two-game suspension and winger Jamie Walker remains sidelined.
Dundee United striker Florent Sinama Pongolle also continues on the sidelines through injury.
As do long-term absentees Paul Paton and Ryan Dow.
Reporter's notes
As 2015 draws to a close, it is a time that Hearts and Dundee United will look back upon with contrasting fortunes.
Robbie Neilson's side romped away with the Championship title and have been a welcome addition back to the top flight of the Scottish game with fast-flowing football that has had Tynecastle packed to the rafters week in, week out.
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson |
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| "Whenever Dundee United comes to Tynecastle, it is a big game, no matter their league standing. "It will be a full house and they have some good players, so I don't think there will be an issue of a comedown after the big game on Sunday. "They are having a difficult time at the moment. They are playing a different formation and it takes a wee bit of time to get settled into that, but you see why he is doing it and the benefits it gives them. "At home, you would expect to have more of the ball against Dundee United than against Celtic. "So we need to make sure we do a lot of work on what we are going to do when we get the ball." |
United on the other hand had a dismal end to last season that continued into 2015/16 and even a change of manager, with Jackie Mcnamara making way for Mixu Paatelainnen, failed to turn around their results.
With only two wins in 19 league matches this season, United are already cut adrift and look destined for the drop to the Championship next season.
Hearts currently are in third spot in the table but are looking to find the winning formula for the first time since defeating Hamilton Accies at Tynecastle in early November.
Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen |
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| "Hearts are a very dangerous team with plenty of power and pace, but we know we can close that gap at the bottom and overtake one or two clubs. "The boys have shown that in matches and in training sessions that they have plenty of belief and positivity. "Caley Thistle got an equaliser 30 seconds before the final whistle in our last match, so we are getting closer to another win. "It is not an easy place to go to, but we were disappointed not to win and it was a kick in the teeth." |
The two sides' previous meeting was a tight encounter at Tannadice, where a solitary goal from Spanish striker Juanma ensured all three points were heading back to the capital.
United, though, did leave Tynecastle with a win on their last appearance there, when goals from two strikers no longer at the club - Nadir Ciftci and Brian Graham - secured a 2-1 win back in March 2014.
