Fixtures rekindle mood of anticipation for domestic game

Even if Celtic perform as expected, there will still be competitive issues in the top flight. Teams were bunched together in the bottom six last season, reflecting the fact that there was little to separate them in terms of squad ability or managerial nous.

A similar tussle to avoid the drop can be expected, but there is the added dimension of the return of the Tayside derby now that Dundee are back in the top flight. There might be a difference in the wherewithal of the two clubs, since United are established in the Premiership and are building a squad that contains several talented youngsters whereas Dundee are readjusting following promotion, but the meetings of the teams will be compelling regardless.

Purists will rankle at the unique aspect of this campaign, since Hamilton and Kilmarnock will be using artificial surfaces in the top flight. There is little point railing against progress, though, when so many lower division clubs rely on 3G and 4G pitches to ensure that their stadia generate income on the days when matches are not being played.

It is also a quaint notion nowadays to think that the game can only be played on grass when so many leading clubs – with the necessary wealth to be able to budget for the costs – now have pitches that are a combination of real and synthetic grass.

Mostly, though, the fixture list merely draws attention to games that stand out regardless of circumstances. Even if Hearts and Hibs were ensconced in mid-table, for instance, their derby meetings would still draw full houses, widespread media coverage and a sense of excitement.

The presence of the World Cup makes the domestic game seem mundane, but a list of games can still generate a brief pang of anticipation.