The Scottish Premiership returns this weekend following a three-week international break, bringing with it a collection of compelling storylines that will shape the campaign ahead.
Veteran manager Martin O'Neill has recommitted to Celtic after a period of reflection, while Hibernian have turned to 35-year-old Marink Reedijk as their new leader. Derek McInnes, meanwhile, is plotting Rangers' path to the top of the table, and sides like St Mirren and Motherwell understand that early promise can evaporate quickly if results turn sour.
O'Neill faces defining test after Celtic's stumble
Celtic entered the international break under considerable scrutiny following three consecutive defeats—two at the hands of Rangers and one in European competition. The run prompted searching questions about the club's direction and O'Neill's future in the role.
The 74-year-old manager took time to reflect during the break and concluded he retained the hunger to pursue a sixth consecutive league title. Chief executive Michael Nicholson publicly endorsed his decision to continue, offering institutional backing at a critical juncture.
Yet O'Neill recognises that his standing at the club, however legendary, depends entirely on delivering silverware. Supporters have voiced frustrations about transfer strategy and squad planning—grievances that extended beyond the club during the break when some fans travelled 72 miles east to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to protest against principal shareholder Dermot Desmond by throwing tennis balls as he played golf.
Five demanding fixtures lie ahead, beginning with a trip to Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Celtic's last spell of four consecutive defeats came under Wilfried Nancy in 2024, a sequence unmatched since 1978. O'Neill must ensure the record books are rewritten for the right reasons this time, and three points in Lanarkshire would represent the essential first step.
According to the SPFL table, Celtic currently sit first on 18 points after seven matches, with Rangers second on 16 points.
McInnes targets top spot after Rangers' summer overhaul
While Celtic have stumbled after a strong opening, Rangers endured their own early turbulence under Derek McInnes before establishing momentum. The manager's first four games in charge yielded no victories, and the Ibrox side subsequently fell to European elimination at the hands of Jablonec.
Since the international break, however, Rangers have gathered six consecutive wins across all competitions and now harbour genuine ambitions of reaching the summit of the Scottish Premiership for the first time this season. McInnes will test those credentials on Saturday when Kilmarnock visit Govan—a fixture against one of his former employers.
A victory would propel Rangers to the top of the table, though only temporarily if Celtic respond positively against Motherwell on Sunday. Nevertheless, it would represent another encouraging development following a summer in which the squad underwent substantial reconstruction. The club signed 14 players during the transfer window, and McInnes is gradually building belief that this investment could finally deliver Rangers their first Premiership title since 2021.
Reedijk begins Hibernian's fresh chapter
Hibernian parted company with David Gray following a 1-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock, ending the Scottish Cup-winning captain's tenure at Easter Road. Eight days later, the club appointed Marink Reedijk as his successor.
At 35 years old, Reedijk becomes the youngest manager in the Scottish top flight. He arrives from SK Beveren, where he led the Belgian second-tier club to an unbeaten title-winning campaign. The Dutchman brings experience from academy roles at Ajax and West Bromwich Albion, and has signed a three-year contract with assistant Rogier Molhoek joining him in the backroom team.
During the international break, Reedijk took his squad to Spain for an intensive training camp, which he characterised as a
pre-season on steroids. His sessions have reportedly been demanding, and he has emphasised a desire to build
an assertive team.
Hibs arrive at their first fixture under Reedijk—a Saturday visit to Dundee United—in a precarious position. According to Sky Sports, the club had recorded two wins from their opening seven league matches when the new manager was appointed. They currently sit 10th in the table, winless in four Premiership games, and hold only a two-point cushion above bottom-placed Kilmarnock. Reedijk and the supporters will hope that the trajectory points upward from this point forward.
Motherwell and St Mirren seek recovery after difficult spells
Several clubs entered the international break hoping for respite from disappointing form. Both Motherwell and St Mirren had endured three consecutive league defeats despite promising beginnings under Alfred Johansson and Craig McLeish respectively.
The fixture list offers little mercy. Motherwell must host Celtic at Fir Park on Sunday—a match that will be shown live on Sky Sports—while St Mirren travel to face Hearts.
Dundee battle mounting injury crisis
Dundee face a mounting injury crisis that threatens to derail their campaign. Manager Steven Pressley has seen his squad depleted by significant absences, with captain Simon Murray, Jack Moorhouse and Finlay Robertson all sidelined by ACL injuries. Additional players remain unavailable, forcing the club to consider the free agent market to bolster their resources during a critical period.
What comes next
Rangers host Kilmarnock on Saturday 10 October, with victory potentially taking them to the top of the table. Hibernian make their first trip under Reedijk to Dundee United on the same day. Motherwell welcome Celtic to Fir Park on Sunday 11 October at 12:00, live on Sky Sports, in what represents a defining early test for O'Neill's side.
