Scottish Premiership Returns with Exciting Matchups
International football takes a backseat as the Scottish Premiership regains prominence this month.
This weekend features five matches, culminating in Celtic's visit to Dundee on Sunday.
Among the highlights are an intriguing matchup at Ibrox, Derek McInnes' return to Kilmarnock, and a notable striker in the Premiership.
Here are the key points to watch for...
Game of the Weekend - Rangers vs. Dundee United (Saturday, 15:00 BST)
Rangers managed to disappoint their fans even without playing, as the shocking news of Steven Gerrard's rejection surfaced on Saturday night.
It feels like ages since Russell Martin was discreetly escorted out of Falkirk Stadium following a 1-1 draw in their last match.
Martin was dismissed shortly after, concluding a tumultuous 123-day spell with the Ibrox club, which currently sits eighth in the league after seven games.
What lies ahead for Rangers in this unpredictable season? They will host Dundee United on Saturday afternoon.
Youth coach Steven Smith has been overseeing training while the club searches for a new first-team manager, with Kevin Muscat emerging as the frontrunner.
Reports indicate that Muscat, a former Rangers full-back, would complete the season with his current team, Shanghai Port, before considering a move to Glasgow.
His team is on the verge of clinching another Chinese Super League title, leading the standings by two points with just four matches left.
The Chinese top-flight season concludes on November 22, but Rangers urgently need results as they trail behind Hearts and Celtic at the top of the table.
After an impressive fourth-place finish last season, Jim Goodwin's revamped Dundee United began the current campaign strongly, but their momentum has stalled following disappointing draws against Kilmarnock and Livingston.
Dundee United has only secured one victory in their last 21 away league matches against Rangers, suffering 10 defeats in their last 11 encounters since a 3-2 win in April 2011.
Manager in the Spotlight - Derek McInnes (Hearts)
On Saturday evening (17:45 BST), Derek McInnes returns to Kilmarnock after leaving Ayrshire for Edinburgh at the end of last season.
The Hearts manager is enjoying a fantastic start to the season, with his team currently leading the Premiership by two points.
This week, McInnes received his second consecutive Manager of the Month award, and pundits and fans are speculating about his suitability for the Rangers position.
The 54-year-old reassured Hearts supporters of his commitment to the club, aiming to maintain the positive atmosphere among fans with another win on Saturday.
McInnes boasts an impressive record against his former team, having lost only once in his last 30 top-flight matches against them, and he remains unbeaten in his last 16 away games at Rugby Park.
To extend that streak, he will face a Kilmarnock side that is currently third in the table after a promising start under Stuart Kettlewell.
Player to Watch - Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (Motherwell)
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos struggled to find the net for Motherwell, but he has recently scored three goals in two matches.
The Australian striker's earlier performances had frustrated Fir Park supporters, but his underlying statistics indicated that a scoring surge was imminent.
At 26 years old, Stamatelopoulos, who faced injury challenges during his debut season in Scotland, currently leads the Premiership in expected goals (5.1) and expected goals per 90 minutes (0.94).
His brace in the 3-2 defeat at Celtic Park last time out means he has either scored (three) or assisted (one) all four of his team's goals in their last two league matches.
The last player outside of the Old Firm to be directly involved in two or more goals in three consecutive Premiership appearances was former Hearts forward Liam Boyce in February 2020.
Stamatelopoulos will aim to continue his impressive form when Falkirk visits Fir Park on Saturday.