World News – GB – East Fife v Hearts LIVE: Updates from the Betfred Cup Group A match at New Bayview

The win will see hearts safely even though they win the group before this weekend’s international break

They have already reached one final and hearts can go one step closer by beating East Five tonight

Robbie Nelson takes his team to Methyl to face one of his former clubs in the last Group A match in the Betfried Cup.

A win will ensure that Tynecastle will top the group and be ranked in the Round of 16, leaving them two wins from Hampden and three other Cup finalists, having already booked their place in the Scottish Cup next month.

They will have to dispense with three of their large arms, who have an international duty to take care of

Craig Gordon left for Serbia with Scotland over the small issue of first appearing in a major finals in 22 years at stake in Belgrade

Michael Smith William Boyce has a similar date with fate as they face Northern Ireland against Slovakia and we hope they join the Scots in the postponed European Championship 2020 next summer

Nelson will use his team to deal with the trio’s absence, but he cautions against expecting sweeping changes as he aims to achieve his eighth victory in eight competitive matches so far this season.

Ross Stewart, Jimmy Brandon and Elliott Freer are likely to attend, as Christophe Berra may have his burgundy debut this year

With Stephen Naismith on the bench and Craig Halkett rest, Christophe Berra takes the captaincy again

It’s his first appearance for the Hearts in 11 months – the latest being Boxing Day’s 2–0 home defeat by Hibbs in December 2019.

East Five: Jordan Hart, Aaron Dunsmore, Chris Higgins, Stuart Murdoch, Ross Dunlop, Danny Denholm, Pat Slaterry, Ryan Wallace, Scott Agnew, Jack Hamilton, Ross Davidson

Submarines: Brett Long, Craig Watson, Kevin Smith, Cameron Dow, Liam Watt, Josh McConnville, Liam Newton, Thomas Collins, Aiden McLaughlin

Mihai Popescu, Olly Lee and Craig Wheaton are the only players who have held their place. Stephen Naismith and Stephen Kingsley are off the bench, which includes youngsters Aaron Darg and Aidan Denholm

Hearts: Ross Stewart, Jimmy Brandon, Mihai Popescu, Christophe Pera, Eddie White, Scott McGill, Andy Irving, Olly Lee, Elliot Frere, Ewan Henderson, Craig Wheaton

Robbie Nelson doesn’t have the usual options available to him tonight, but he must have enough quality at his disposal to win the match

It’s been a long time since Christophe Pera played for Hearts, but he might be back tonight

The veteran defender is back on the bench at the weekend after defeating an Achilles tendon injury and is poised to start his first Hearts since his departure to Dundee on loan in January

Read the full story: Robbie Nelson is on the clean ‘Christophe Pera Hearts’ list and why he might play more than people think

Hearts began to show the winning mentality that Robbie Nelson had been delving into since his return to Tynecastle

They have won all of their competitive matches this season in all competitions, and the president does not want to see any complacency because they fight on three fronts.

To keep this culture at the forefront of players’ minds, he was explaining how training is directed towards developing the will to win at all times

Read the full story: Robbie Nelson explains how Hearts training is geared toward ensuring a winning mindset away from games

We returned to New Bay View tonight and hopefully it’s less like a hard work than last time, when the Jambus team had struggled to beat Cowdenbeth 1-0 in the previous group match

Changes will be imposed on visitors, but they must have enough to get the job done and complete the group stage campaign without any concerns

We’ll have what’s new, action and feedback, with team news as soon as we get it

The Heart of Midlothian Fj, East Fife FG, Christophe Berra, Robbie Neilson, Edinburgh, Craig Gordon, Michael Smith