Hearts manager Derek McInnes has declared his team as the "best" in Scotland at the moment, yet remains humble despite an unbeaten start to the season. The "Jambos" are sitting nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after the opening round of matches, having scored as many goals as Celtic and Rangers combined. McInnes, who has already defeated both Glasgow giants, is cautious about Hearts' title prospects. "Right now, we're the best team because we're at the top of the league," he stated, "but the real test comes at the end of the season."

A successful summer transfer window has earned Hearts accolades, particularly with the signings of Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kiziridis. However, extending the contract of captain Lawrence Shankland has also proved crucial. Shankland is currently the league's top scorer and has been called up to the Scotland national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark. McInnes expressed his satisfaction with national coach Steve Clarke's decision to include him in the squad.

Another Hearts player, Craig Gordon, is also making a return to the international stage after a long injury layoff. Although he has yet to play in an official match this season, the experienced goalkeeper could step in as Scotland's first-choice keeper in place of the injured Angus Gunn.

Analysis: Hearts have made an impressive start to the season, but the real challenge will be maintaining this level of performance until the end. The presence of players like Shankland and Gordon in the national team is a testament to the squad's quality and could inspire the team to even greater achievements.