McInnes on 'stupid' title talk, Gordon's Scotland recall & Shankland

Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media as Hearts prepare to face Edinburgh rivals Hibs this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Tynecastle boss:

• McInnes says it is "stupid" to suggest Hearts - who sit two points clear at the top - are title challengers after only six matches.
• He adds: "Our fight is with ourselves. We're not getting drawn into that. For us, the focus is on improving what wasn't good enough last season, and we need to keep working on that. The next game's difficult enough. We just need to try and win a derby which, regardless of form, is always huge. In derbies across the country, form usually goes out the window and it's all about the game itself."
• The derby comes too soon for Brazilian midfielder Ageu to return from a hamstring injury, but goalkeeper Craig Gordon could make the squad for the first time this season.
• McInnes confirms he spoke with Steve Clarke, who wanted reassurance about Gordon's fitness before recalling the 42-year-old goalkeeper to his Scotland squad.
• The Tynecastle boss says it has been a "stop-start" season so for for Gordon, who played 45 minutes of a bounce game on Tuesday, but the aim now is to "build up his training minutes and momentum".
• McInnes was "not suprised" by Lawrence Shankland's latest Scotland omission: "I had a brief chat with Lawrence this morning after my conversation with Steve yesterday. You'd need to ask Lawrence if he was surprised or expected it."
• McInnes adds that the "motivation" for Shankland is to be in the World Cup squad should Scotland qualify and the striker must not "lose sight of that".
• McInnes was delighted with the manner of the 3-0 win against Falkirk on Saturday, describing it as the performance he has "enjoyed most" this season.