St Johnstone are quick out the traps and enjoying a good spell of early pressure.

Andrew Considine launches a long throw in the mixer before Drey Wright overhits a cross from the right as the Peth men probe.

The visitors get us started at sunny Tynecastle.

Hearts have won six of their past seven home matches against St Johnstone, but Saints have only lost one of their most recent six games against the Edinburgh side - at Tynecastle in January.

Will it be another home win for Hearts? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

Hearts entertain St Johnstone looking to get back to winning ways domestically after the disappointment of missing out on a place in the Europa League group stage after Thursday's defeat by Zurich.

The consolation was a fine performance before Jorge Grant's red card changed the game - plus a place in the Conference League groups - and the Edinburgh side will be keen to reproduce that first-half display.

St Johnstone, meanwhile, will be keen to avoid a third consecutive defeat having failed to score in those previous two outings.

Having announced the signing of midfielder Orestis Kiomourtzoglou from Dutch club Heracles, manager Robbie Neilson tells BBC Scotland "we'd like to bring a couple more in" before the summer transfer window closes.

Michael Stewart
Former Hearts midfielder on BBC Scotland

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson says the six changes to his side were a result of suspensions, injuries and because "we wanted to freshen things up as well".

Striker Lawrence Shankland and winger Barrie McKay are two of those dropping to the bench and Neilson points out they "did a massive amount of running in midweek".

"We've got a squad for a reason and we've got guys who can come in," he says.

Hearts are facing six weeks of midweek ties having qualified for the Europa Conference League group stage and Neilson adds: "We can't keep putting the same people out there."

Image source, sns

Callum Davidson explains that he's brought Stevie May into the starting line-up in place of Theo Bair as the Scot has "trained well", has impressed off the bench and he thought it was time "to give him a wee shot".

Responding to the changes made by counterpart Robbie Neilson, he tells BBC Scotland: "Whatever Hearts team is out will be a strong team, so we've got to be fully ready to go."

As for his own side he adds: "Definitely room for improvement, but a couple of refereeing decisions would be nice. We're still learning as a team and I'm still learning a bit about some of the players."

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson puts faith in his side despite last week's 1-0 home defeat by Aberdeen.

He makes one change, with Stevie May starting ahead of Theo Bair up front, with the Canadian dropping to the bench.

On-loan Celtic left-back Adam Montgomery makes the bench on his return from injury.

Image source, BBC Sport

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson tests the depth of his squad as he makes six changes to his side from Thursday's 1-0 defeat by Zurich in their Europa League play-off.

One is forced, with defender Alex Cochrane suspended, while Jorge Grant is missing from the squad after his midweek red card and key defender Stephen Kingsley has failed a fitness test.

Nathaniel Atkinson and Lewis Neilson come into defence, Peter Haring and Andy Halliday are in midfield, while Gary Mackay-Steven and Josh Ginnelly are on the wings.

In-form trio Alan Forrest, Barrie McKay and Lawrence Shankland drop to the bench, while defender Toby Sibbick is also missing from the squad through suspension.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ahead of kick-off, Hearts have announced the signing of German midfielder Orestis Kiomourtzoglou from Dutch club Heracles Almelo for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old, who has agreed a three-year contract, made 26 appearances last season for Heracles as they were relegated from the Eredivisie and played three times this campaign.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson told his club website he is "one we've had our eye on for a while" and will "bring a real presence to our midfield".

However, Kiomourtzoglou will not be involved today as he awaits international clearance and a work permit.

Dundee United's current run makes grim reading.

Five straight defeats, one goal scored, and 24 conceded. Bottom of the table by two points.

In contrast, Celtic - two points clear at the top - have won five in a row, netted 21 and conceded just one.

Image source, SNS

Heart of Midlothian: Gordon, M Smith, Atkinson, Rowles, Neilson, Haring, Halliday, Devlin, Mackay-Steven, Boyce, Ginnelly.

Substitutes: Stewart, Shankland, Forrest, McKay, Henderson, C Smith, Darge, Denholm.

St Johnstone: Matthews, Wright, McGowan, Mitchell, Considine, Brown, Phillips, Hallberg, Carey, Murphy, May.

Substitutes: Parish, Kucheriavyi, Gordon, Crawford, Ballantyne, Blair, O'Halloran, Mahon, Montgomery.

We're still waiting to hear from Dundee United manager Jack Ross...

More from Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, who tells BBC Scotland: "It's about us and setting our own standards and making sure we are the best we can be every time we are out there.

"We have set a standard hopefully we can build on."

On hat-trick heroes Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi, he adds: "They worked awfully hard for the team. All our strikers do.

"They get the rewards but what's more pleasing for me is putting in the work for those rewards."

On facing Rangers next: "They are going really well and a good side. I think it will be a good quality game and I'm looking forward to it."

An understandably delighted Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to BBC Scotland.

"The boys were great," he said. "The quality of our goals was outstanding, our general play was really good. Our defensive work was good too.

"We have to be [ruthless]. That's the part of the kind of football team we want to be.

"Our intent is to keep going and not let the scoreboard or the circumstances dictate how we go about things, and the boys were disciplined today.

"We knew Dundee United were going through a rough spell and they were probably a bit vulnerable today. We got on top of them early which allowed us to play our football."

Image source, SNS

Steven Thompson
Former Dundee United striker on BBC Sportsound

While it's a day of abject misery for Dundee United, Celtic are celebrating their biggest-ever away league victory.

With five wins from five, they go into next weekend's Old Firm derby two points clear of Rangers.

And with Real Madrid's visit looming in the Champions League opener, Ange Postecoglou's side could scarcely be in better form.