Celtic visit Hibs, Miovski doubts & Levein woes

It is only the second weekend of the new Scottish Premiership season and already it has a familiar look with Celtic sitting top of the table.

With Kilmarnock and St Mirren in Europa Conference League action on Thursday and Celtic's visit to Easter Road picked for live television coverage, half the fixtures are on Saturday and the others on Sunday.

Can anyone upset the apple cart, starting this weekend?

Here's what to look out for over the two days:

Game of the weekend - Hibernian v Celtic

Celtic's flag-day performance in sweeping aside Kilmarnock 4-0 was nothing short of imperious.

Much has been made of the lack of new signings to bolster Brendan Rodgers' squad, but they looked to be revitalised by the summer break.

Enjoying 82% possession against a side who, remember, finished fourth last season, they had 32 goal attempts - 13 on target.

It is difficult to see past Celtic being odds-on favourites to retain the league title given Rangers' summer rebuilding.

Hibernian head coach David Gray will understandably view their arrival on Sunday with some trepidation given the start they have made since he was confirmed in post after his caretaker spell last season.

His side scraped through to the League Cup last 16 as group winners, but not without shock defeat away to League 1 part-timers Kelty Hearts.

Hibs thumped 14 goals - and conceded just one - as they showed they retain the attacking threat of last season.

However, a 3-0 loss away to St Mirren in their Premiership opener suggests the defensive Achilles heel is still present despite summer acquisitions.

Add in the fact that Hibs have beaten Celtic just once in 21 meetings and it could be an uncomfortable afternoon for the hosts.

Strangely, though, Celtic have won on just four of their 15 league visits - losing three - since 2013 and that win rate of 27% is their lowest away from home against any Premiership opponent during those 11 years.

Hibs held Celtic to a goalless draw in their first meeting last season at Easter Road and beat them 4-2 there as recently as May 2023.

However, that was the Glasgow side's only defeat in their latest 12 visits to Leith and it would be a major surprise if it was to be an unlucky 13th.

Player to watch - Bojan Miovski (Aberdeen)

Bojan Miovski appears happy still training with Aberdeen

In saying that he is the player to watch, there is no guarantee Bojan Miovski will still be an Aberdeen player come Sunday's visit by St Mirren.

Even if he is still officially on the books, he still might not play.

Why? Because the North Macedonia striker is one of the hottest properties in Scottish football and is holding talks with Girona as the 25-year-old moves closer to ending his two years at Pittodrie.

When Miovski was only used once as a substitute during the Dons' four League Cup group games, it was assumed he was being protected with a transfer imminent.

However, he started last weekend's 2-1 win over St Johnstone.

Considering the Dons have won all five of their games this season - scoring 17 times in the process - since Jimmy Thelin took over as manager, it could be argued that they are fine without their talisman striker.

However, St Mirren arrive with their own four-match unbeaten season run intact after their late equaliser at home to Brann in Conference League qualifying and Thelin might think it is worth risking the striker who has scored 44 goals in 96 Dons appearances.

Manager in focus - Craig Levein (St Johnstone)

Craig Levein has had one of those weeks again as St Johnstone manager.

As if losing their opening Premiership game at home to Aberdeen wasn't bad enough, the 59-year-old lost defender Sam McClelland for a couple of months following an injury picked up during the game.

Then came the fan furore after midfielder Cammy MacPherson shared a post on social media by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

The 25-year-old apologised on Friday evening, with the club confirming the player would now face disciplinary action.

Levein blanked questions about the matter during his pre-match media conference and would not say whether MacPherson would be in his squad to visit Kilmarnock on Sunday.

However, the affair will have been an unwelcome distraction for Levein, who has already admitted that he is having to operate with a playing budget smaller than most of his rivals despite the arrival of the club's new American owners.

St Johnstone recovered from a shock defeat by League 1 side Alloa Athletic to qualify from the League Cup group stage, with strikers Adama Sidibeh, Benjamin Kimpioka and summer arrival Makenzie Kirk proving a potent strike force.

The good news for Levein as he looks for positives again is that Saints are visiting a side yet to win in their four outings this season after Thursday's 2-2 draw at home to Tromso. Albeit three of those were in European competition and the other was against the reigning champions.