Hearts Lead Scottish Premiership as McInnes Dismisses Title Talk

Hearts manager Derek McInnes has dismissed premature title talk despite the club sitting top of the Scottish Premiership, emphasizing the team's focus on internal improvement rather than external expectations. He considers it "stupid" to claim Hearts as title contenders after only six games and insists the team's priority is to build on last season's shortcomings. McInnes is optimistic about the squad's future, highlighting the backing from investor Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, which aims to strengthen the team through intelligence and expertise rather than just financial investment. On player matters, McInnes expressed no surprise at striker Lawrence Shankland's omission from Scotland's World Cup qualifying squad, urging him to maintain motivation by focusing on the potential for inclusion in the World Cup finals. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been recalled to the Scotland squad after recovering from injury, with McInnes confirming communication with national team manager Steve Clarke about Gordon's fitness. The upcoming Edinburgh derby against Hibs is a key focus for Hearts, with McInnes underscoring the unique intensity of derby matches where form is often disregarded.