Preview: Kelty Hearts vs. Dundee United - prediction, team news, lineups

Scottish Premiership side Dundee United will travel to League Two outfit Kelty Hearts for their opening game in the League Cup group stages on Friday night.

The two sides, who have been drawn in Group B alongside Arbroath, East Fife and Elgin City, faced each other in the group stages last season, with the visitors coming out on top 1-0 in October 2020.

Match preview

Kelty Hearts will be playing in the SPFL for the first time in their history, after securing promotion from the Lowlands League in May.

The 2020-21 season was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic and despite only playing 13 league games, the Jambos were crowned champions, before beating Highland League side Brora Rangers 6-1 on aggregate in the playoff semi-finals; they then had to overcome Brechin City in the League Two playoff final, which they managed to achieve, winning 3-1 on aggregate.

Despite clinching promotion, manager Barry Ferguson opted to join Alloa Athletic, with 36-year-old Kevin Thomson being appointed as his replacement, stepping into his first managerial role.

The former Rangers academy coach faces a huge task in defeating Premiership opposition on Friday, but he will hope that his new side can at least put up a fight and begin the new campaign with a positive performance.

Kelty Hearts have played two pre-season friendlies in the last week, however they were unable to win either of them, losing 3-2 at home to Partick Thistle before drawing 1-1 against Montrose.

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After clinching promotion to the Scottish Premiership in 2019-20, Dundee United ensured their top-flight status remained intact last season, after finishing in ninth place and eight points clear of the bottom two.

Micky Mellon's time in Scotland lasted just one season as he has returned to manage Tranmere Rovers, with Tam Courts promoted from his role as head of tactical performance to take the reins at Tannadice.

Courts's only previous managerial role was with Friday's opponents Kelty Hearts, when he was a player-coach between 2013 and 2018.

The 39-year-old will be returning to familiar territory when his new side travel to New Central Park, and the Tangerines will be strong favourites to claim all three points.

Dundee United – who won the League Cup in 1979 and 1980 – have had just one pre-season friendly heading into the new campaign, comfortably winning 4-1 away at Brechin City last weekend.

Team News

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Kelty Hearts midfielder Andy Black, who joined the club this summer from Edinburgh City, could start Friday's game at right-back, with fellow new recruit Reis Peggie set to start at left-back.

Club captain Michael Tidser is expected to feature in central midfield alongside Thomas Reilly, with Kallum Higginbotham likely to play in the number 10 role.

Experienced winger Joe Cardle, who scored seven goals and provided seven assists for Partick Thistle last season, could be handed his debut on the left-wing, with Ross Philip set to start on the opposite flank.

As for Dundee United, 35-year-old Charlie Mulgrew – who re-joined the club this summer after spending a brief loan spell at Tannadice in 2006 – could be handed his debut at centre-back alongside either Ryan Edwards or Mark Reynolds.

Courts may decide to use a narrow 4-4-2 formation, which could see Calum Butcher, Ian Harkes, Jeando Fuchs and Peter Pawlett all start in central midfield.

Strikers Nicky Clark and Lawrence Shankland, who scored a combined 20 goals last season, are both likely to feature up front.

Kelty Hearts possible starting lineup:
Jamieson; Black, Hooper, Hill, Peggie; Tidser, Reilly; Philip, Higginbotham, Cardle; Austin

Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Siegrist; Smith, Reynolds, Mulgrew, Robson; Butcher; Harkes, Fuchs; Pawlett; Clark, Shankland

We say: Kelty Hearts 0-3 Dundee United

Both Kelty Hearts and Dundee United will be looking to begin their 2021-22 campaigns with a victory, although Friday's game could be a difficult task for the hosts.

The visitors have plenty of Premiership quality and if they are to name a strong side, then they should win comfortably at New Central Park.