MX23RW : Thursday, May 2 17:25:04| >> :120:13880:13880:

Gary Mackay-Steven: 'Hearts will not underestimate Celtic'

Gary Mackay-Steven: 'Hearts will not underestimate Celtic'
© Reuters
Celtic crashed out of the Champions League against Danish side Midtjylland in midweek.

Hearts winger Gary Mackay-Steven knows they cannot afford to underestimate his former Celtic team-mates when they visit Tynecastle on Saturday night.

But Mackay-Steven is determined to impose Hearts' attacking game on their visitors as they return to the top flight.

Celtic crashed out of the Champions League against Danish side Midtjylland in midweek and a young defence shipped six goals to West Ham in a friendly days earlier.

Mackay-Steven said: "A lot has been said about Celtic but it's still Celtic, still a massive team, a massive challenge and they have still got great players.

"We know it's going to be a tough, tough game. I still know a lot of the boys there and the quality they have.

"We won't underestimate them at all. They are as tough a game as you'll get to start with.

"But at the same time we want to focus on ourselves, impose our style of play on the game and come out with a good performance and a good result."

Swedish centre-back Carl Starfelt is set to feature after his first Celtic training session but the inexperience of the Hoops back line could give Hearts an opportunity.

Former Aberdeen and Dundee United player Mackay-Steven said: "It's not just Celtic, we want to attack any team and show how good a team we are. But they play for Celtic, they are good players. They have had some mixed results but it's going to be a tough, tough game.

"But we go into every game confident, we are a big team and want to focus on ourselves attacking and creating chances.

"Last season proved different challenges. It's a tough league, the Championship, teams sometimes sit in, sometimes try and play.

"In this league, certainly Celtic like to impose our style, but we need to concentrate on ourselves and impose what we have been working on and bring the confidence. Especially when we are playing at home, we want to take it to each team that comes."

ID:457501: cacheID:457501:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3332:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Beni Baningime in action for Everton in March 2018
Read Next:
Beni Baningime could make Hearts debut against Celtic
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!