Scottish Premiership preview: Celtic, Rangers & Aberdeen in focus

A battle of the interim managers.

So much has changed for both clubs since the Scottish Cup final that it’s almost hard to believe that was just eight months ago.

Both sides have new managers – in Celtic’s case they have appointed and rejected an additional boss in that time too of course – and lots of new players.

So there will be a very different look on and off the pitch to the showpiece game at Hampden Park last May.

Aberdeen are still yet to find someone to replace Jimmy Thelin so Peter Leven will be in charge again and while he is highly regarded, the results since he stepped in following Thelin’s exit have been miserable.

Kilmarnock’s first win in 17 league games at the weekend was the latest low point and Leven only has the 6-2 win over bottom side Livingston to show for his five games in charge.

Nevertheless, Celtic usually find it tough at Pittodrie and Martin O’Neill knows that better than most.

Tomas Cvancara and Julian Araujo of the January arrivals are likely to start and it will be interesting to see if O’Neill has been sufficiently impressed in training by Junior Adamu, Benjamin Arthur and Joel Mvuka to throw any of them straight in.

Defender Auston Trusty is back after suspension too, so suddenly O’Neill has options despite the absences of key men Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Alistair Johnston.

A commanding win and the gap to Hearts closing to three points could make this a pivotal week in the Premiership title race.