SO much for a gentle reintroduction.
Instead of bottom-placed Dundee United in their first competitive game for more than a month, it’s now just the small matter of a trip to Celtic Park for Livingston. If David Martindale’s Lions have any cobwebs, they’d be best leaving them at the other end of the M8 on Wednesday.
“They are the team to beat, they are the league leaders and champions,” he said. “Ange [Postecoglou] has kicked them on this season, in terms of how they play and the intensity they have.
“His recruitment has been great and they are the team to beat again this season.
“We have never won at Parkhead in my time with the club, the best we have had is a few draws.
“I know how difficult it will be on Wednesday. Callum McGregor is back and he is one of, if not the best player in the league.
“They are stronger for having him back and available. Celtic have had a break and they will be ready.
“I have a lot of respect for Ange for what he has achieved there since coming in.
“Will the boys be like caged tigers after not playing so long? I hope so.”
At least it was a productive World Cup break for Livi. Not only did they make a signing - former Rangers youngster Steven Bradley - but they spent time in Turkey, claiming the Titanic Cup with wins over Fortuna Sittard and Fk Liepaja.
While not exactly on equal footing with Inter and ‘67 - readers can be excused a moment to Google the two teams mentioned above - Martindale believes those clocked-up minutes could be key.
He said: “I am sure they will be looking forward to Wednesday, especially as it is now our first game back.
“They are raring to go for Parkhead, but any time you come up against the Old Firm, home or away, there is always an extra buzz as you are playing one of the big two.
“This is no different and the boys will be looking forward to the occasion of playing in front of 60,000.”
Like most games on Saturday, Livingston and Dundee United’s clash fell victim to the week’s cold snap, with an early morning pitch inspection putting paid to the match.
“For the players’ safety the game just couldn’t happen,” Martindale said. “We were probably a day early and if we had another day or two with temperatures above freezing then we might have had it on.
“But you have to put the players first. It would be OK to run on but if you were taking it into a competitive game it was unsafe for the boys.”
For United, the postponement means they too face a longer-than-expected wait for their post-World Cup return. Much to the frustration of manager Liam Fox.
He said: "We've been out of action for a period of time now. We were looking forward to getting back in action against Livingston and seeing the fruits of the last three weeks on the training pitch.
"But it is what it is. We've got two really exciting home games coming up now and that's the focus."
