Can Hearts prove credentials at scene of title heartbreak?

Hearts' last trip to Parkhead ended with their title dream being crushed in the space of 11 minutes. They return to face Celtic on Sunday refreshed and reshaped. Hearts suffered a crushing title-deciding defeat at Celtic Park in May Hearts' last trip to Parkhead ended with their crestfallen players being bundled out of a chaotic Celtic Park and back on to the team bus in their strips and boots after watching their title dream die in the space of 11 crushing minutes. Meanwhile, the 800 Jambos in attendance – and the thousands back in Gorgie – were going through their own football trauma. The mere thought of ever returning to the home of the Scottish Premiership champions would have been a harrowing one.

However, refreshed and reshaped, Wouter Vrancken's men are embracing the trip to face a Celtic side still failing to convince a support that are becoming increasingly disgruntled after another chastening European defeat at Benfica. Earlier this week, influential Hearts investor Tony Bloom repeated his faith in his title ambition for the Tynecastle club Sunday's fixture (15:00 BST) will give an indication as to whether or not that is likely to come this season. O'Neill defiant in defeat, but Celtic's 'flat-track bullies' fail another big test Josh McPake has scored or assisted six of Hearts' last seven goals