Celtic take on Dundee; Hibernian host Ross County; Aberdeen visit Livingston; St Johnstone face Motherwell; Watch free highlights of every Scottish Premiership game on our website
Sunday 8 August 2021 15:03, UK
Team news and stats for round two of the Scottish Premiership season as newly promoted Dundee visit Celtic in one of four matches on Sunday.
James McCarthy is likely to face a wait before making his Celtic debut.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder will only have one day's training with the bulk of his team-mates ahead of Sunday's cinch Premiership clash with Dundee and has been working on his own during pre-season.
Leigh Griffiths has been missing with a calf injury, while Christopher Jullien is still working his way back from a serious knee injury.
Dundee are without the suspended Max Anderson following his red card against St Mirren.
Danny Mullen will drop out with an ankle injury and Cammy Kerr is still out with a knee problem.
Christie Elliott is fit after going off against St Mirren, while Liam Fontaine, Alex Jakubiak and Shaun Byrne could all return.
● Celtic are unbeaten in 32 league meetings with Dundee (W26 D6) since a 0-2 defeat at Celtic Park under Martin O'Neill in May 2001.
● Dundee have scored just two goals in total across their last 12 league away games at Celtic (D2 L10), failing to score in 10 of those trips. In reply, Celtic have scored 32 goals in those 12 matches.
● Celtic have only won two of their last eight games in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L2), although those two victories have come in their last two league games at Celtic Park (4-0 v St. Johnstone and 6-0 v Livingston).
● Dundee have lost 11 of their last 13 Scottish Premiership games (W1 D1), however they've avoided defeat in two of their most recent three outings - 1-0 v Livingston last season and 2-2 v St. Mirren on MD1 this season.
● Since the start of last season, Celtic's David Turnbull has created more chances than any other player in the Scottish Premiership (106). Indeed, this is 34 more than the player with the second-most in this period (Ryan Kent, 72).
How to follow: Follow the action via our live minute-by-minute match blog. Free match highlights will be published on the Sky Sports website, app and YouTube channel later that evening.
Left-back Josh Doig is in contention for a return to action for Hibernian after two games on the sidelines.
The 19-year-old was left out for matches against Motherwell and Rijeka - with the Easter Road side braced for a bid which has not yet arrived - and manager Jack Ross will now consider him for the visit of Ross County in the cinch Premiership.
Striker Kevin Nisbet sustained a knock against Rijeka at Easter Road on Thursday but Ross is hopeful he will be fit. Melker Hallberg (knee), Chris Cadden (thigh) and Sean Mackie (foot) remain on the sidelines.
Ross County could have five new players in their ranks. Midfielders Ben Paton and Jack Burroughs signed on Friday along with goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer. Defender Harry Clarke arrived earlier in the week and David Cancola trained for the first time on Monday following a quarantine stint.
Jake Vokins is out for about 10 weeks with a broken foot.
● Hibernian are looking for back-to-back Scottish Premiership wins over Ross County for the first time since December 2017 under Neil Lennon, having won their last league meeting 2-1 in March last season.
● Ross County won their last league visit to Hibernian 2-0 in December 2020, their first win away to Hibs in the Scottish Premiership in six such visits (D2 L3).
● After beating Motherwell in their first game, Hibernian are looking to open a Scottish Premiership campaign with two victories from two for a second consecutive season under Jack Ross - they won their first three under him in 2020-21.
● Ross County are unbeaten in their last four Scottish Premiership games (W4 D1); their longest run without defeat in the competition since October 2019 (also four).
● Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Christian Doidge has scored more goals in the Scottish Premiership than any other Hibernian player (20).
How to follow: Follow the action with our dedicated Scottish Premiership live scores service, while free match highlights will be published on the Sky Sports website, app and YouTube channel later that evening.
Livingston have lost Jack McMillan and Jaze Kabia to knee injuries for around eight weeks ahead of the cinch Premiership contest with Aberdeen.
Jackson Longridge returns from injury, Josh Mullin is building up his fitness, while Andrew Shinnie has had a slight setback and will miss out again.
Long-term absentee Keaghan Jacobs (foot) remains on the sidelines while manager David Martindale is trying to ease Adam Lewis, Cristian Montano and Tom Parkes into action after pre-season fitness issues.
Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass will rotate his squad following their Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie away at Breidablik in Iceland on Thursday night.
Jonny Hayes, Lewis Ferguson and forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas - a summer signing from Livingston were all replaced at half-time, with Declan Gallagher, Dylan McGeouch and Connor McLennan all sent on as the Dons battled to a 3-2 win.
Teenage defender Calvin Ramsay also came off during the second half, but Glass confirmed the move was precautionary, with the 18-year-old having set up the first two goals.
● Livingston have only enjoyed one win in their last 15 league meetings with Aberdeen (D4 L10), a 2-0 victory at Pittodrie in February of last season.
● Aberdeen are unbeaten in six away league visits to Livingston (W4 D2), last losing such a match in April 2004 under Steve Paterson (0-2).
● Livingston managed to win only one of their final seven home games in last season's top-flight (D2 L4), only managing to score fives times across this run.
● Aberdeen are looking to win their opening two league games of a Scottish Premiership season for the first time since 2017-18, following their 2-0 win over Dundee United on MD1.
● Aberdeen's Christian Ramirez netted on his Scottish Premiership debut on MD1, whilst at the age of 30 years and 119 days, the American is the oldest non-European player to net on their debut in the competition since 2013-14.
How to follow: Follow the action with our dedicated Scottish Premiership live scores service, while free match highlights will be published on the Sky Sports website, app and YouTube channel later that evening.
Glenn Middleton could feature for St Johnstone against Motherwell. The winger returned to McDiarmid Park on Friday on another loan transfer from Rangers.
Craig Bryson (knee) is set to miss out again, while Charlie Gilmour is also still to feature this season because of fitness issues.
Motherwell will have an unchanged squad for Sunday's trip to McDiarmid Park.
Liam Grimshaw played 45 minutes in a behind closed-doors game in midweek as he bids to return from a long-term absence through illness. Mark O'Hara and Connor Shields are still missing too.
How to follow: Follow the action with our dedicated Scottish Premiership live scores service, while free match highlights will be published on the Sky Sports website, app and YouTube channel later that evening.
The top-flight will once again take a winter break from Monday January 3 until Wednesday January 26.
After 33 games, the league splits into two sections of six teams, with each team playing each other in that section.
