Kris Boyd has issued a direct warning to the Rangers squad ahead of Wednesday (28 October) night’s trip to face Hearts, as Derek McInnes prepares for his return to Tynecastle.

Rangers travel to Tynecastle Park seeking to build on Saturday’s impressive 4-0 victory over St Johnstone. That win saw the Light Blues extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to nine games and remain four points behind Premiership league leaders Celtic.

Kris Boyd warns Rangers over getting carried away by Celtic 7-1 Hearts ahead of Tynecastle trip

With Rangers travelling to Edinburgh just days after Hearts’ heavy defeat, Boyd insists that the scoreline obscures the genuine attacking threat Wouter Vrancken’s side posted in Glasgow.

Speaking on the Go Ballistic podcast, Boyd urged McInnes’ men to treat the Tynecastle showdown as a completely distinct challenge, pointing out that Hearts recorded 20 shots – two more than the Hoops – against the champions despite the ultimate blowout at Celtic Park.

Huge game for Rangers on Wednesday night because you look at the way Celtic demolished Hearts at Celtic Park in terms of you look at the scoreline, but Hearts still had a threat – meaning 20 shots. Celtic were clinical, punished them at every opportunity. Going to Tynecastle on Wednesday night is going to be a totally different game. It is important that Rangers players don’t look at that result and performance from Celtic because it’s a totally different game going there and the whole Derek McInnes thing going back.

While Hearts were left red-faced in Glasgow, it is worth noting that they have only lost one of their nine games at home across all competitions this season. Vrancken’s men have scored 23 goals at Tynecastle, while conceding 10.

Meanwhile, Rangers have won only three of their seven away games this term. However, the growing injury list at Hearts could play right into McInnes‘ hands on Wednesday.

Roger Hannah has confirmed a severe selection crisis unfolding in the capital. The journalist revealed immediately after Boyd’s assessment that “seven or eight won’t make it” for Hearts, with the host side awaiting scans on the crucial defensive duo of Harry Milne and Christian Borchgrevink following their European excursion against Trabzonspor.

Left-back Milne left Turkiye in a protective brace and on crutches after damaging his knee, with Hearts preparing for fears that he could be sidelined for months. Meanwhile, right-back Borchgrevink suffered a hamstring strain in the same fixture.

According to the latest update from the Edinburgh Evening News on 26 October, they join midfielder Oisin McEntee, who re-aggravated a calf issue during the 7-1 defeat to Celtic, alongside long-term absentees Stuart Findlay, Craig Halkett, Eduardo Ageu, Tom Renaud, and Blair Spittal on a sprawling eight-man injury list.

This mounting injury list presents a classic double-edged sword for McInnes as he returns to his former club under the floodlights. While missing eight first-team players severely weakens Hearts’ structural depth, it also heightens expectations on Rangers to claim maximum points at Tynecastle.

Even with all those absences, Hearts registered 14 shots in their 2-0 win against Motherwell on Sunday (25 October). Claudio Braga is also getting back to top form, having scored two goals in his three Premiership appearances in October.

Rangers have won just three of their seven away matches across all competitions this term, and with Boyd ringing the alarm bells over Hearts’ underlying 20-shot attacking output, McInnes will demand total focus from his players to ensure they do not stumble into a banana-skin in Edinburgh in the wake of Storm Boelo.