Derek McInnes insists he felt guilty about leaving Hearts in the summer - with the Rangers boss fully expecting a hostile reception when he returns to Tynecastle tomorrow night.

McInnes came within minutes of leading Hearts to an historic league title triumph last season, before ultimately being pipped by Celtic on the final day.

He admits that the circumstances around how the title race panned out, particularly with regards to refereeing decisions that went against Hearts in the run-in, still fuel a sense of injustice.

McInnes left Hearts at the end of the campaign to take charge at Rangers, with tomorrow’s clash seeing him go back to his old stomping ground in Gorgie for the first time.

Whilst insisting that he has nothing but fond memories of his time in charge at Hearts, he fully accepts whatever flak comes his way at Tynecastle.

Asked about the reception he will receive, McInnes replied: ‘The hope would be you go on to the pitch and you clap the fans and there’s acknowledgement both ways but I know that’s not going to happen.

‘I totally understand it. I loved my time at Hearts. I need to say that. It was only a short time, but I thought my Hearts team were a breath of fresh air for Scottish football last season.

‘I really enjoyed what we managed to achieve. It showed what could be done despite not having the huge financial muscle of Rangers and Celtic to compete with, and I was proud of what we did there.

‘Taking a team who finished in the bottom six and getting to 80 points, we just felt a real injustice at the end of it all. I understand that it’s not going to be great for me going back, but I get it.

‘At Hearts, we were hurting. It was like we were mourning. That might seem a bit exaggerated, but that’s how it felt.

‘We were all clinging to each other during the first part of the close season. It was a time when we felt we should all be sticking together.

‘I kind of felt the guilt about the decision over whether I stayed or left. I had felt something similar a couple of weeks earlier with Lawrence (Shankland, who also left to join Rangers).

‘I was golfing with Graeme Jones [Hearts sporting director] and talking about the season, the plans for the next season and having a post-mortem of everything when we got the call that Lawrence wanted to go to Rangers.

‘I remember how I felt then. I felt a bit let down and flat about the whole thing. For me to make a similar move a couple of weeks later, I understood that.

‘I totally get it if the treatment I receive is what it is. You could say that maybe I deserve it, but nothing will change how I feel about my time at Hearts. I loved what we had there.

‘We had a brilliant season, my players were outstanding and we showed what could be done. I think there was a real injustice and a grievance towards the end of the season because we felt we should have won the title.

‘I wanted to be a manager who won a title outside the Old Firm. But for a few contentious decisions going against us, I think we would have won it.

‘Tynecastle has a brilliant atmosphere and Hearts have a good home record. It can be ferocious and can be so passionate.

‘You’ve got to deal with that side of it, but you also need to be confident enough to deal with the game.

‘I’m looking forward, I think it will be a test for my team but we are looking forward to it.’

McInnes has no fresh injury concerns to contend with as Rangers look to build on the 4-0 win over St Johnstone last weekend.

The Ibrox side currently sit four points adrift of Celtic in the title race, with their rivals taking on Dundee United at Parkhead tomorrow evening.

McInnes revealed that both Shankland and Cammy Devlin are scheduled to return to action in just over a month.

In the case of Shankland, that represents a boost in the sense that it was originally feared that his hamstring injury could keep him out till the turn of the year.

‘It’s not easy for them, but they are both very positive in their outlook,’ added McInnes. ‘They know they’ll be back during the first week or so of December.

‘We’re almost into November now, so they can probably see the finishing line. They are infectious boys and good types. That’s part of the reason why we brought them here.

‘With Lawrence, there is still the main part of the business end of the season for him to have a big influence. Likewise Cammy.

‘If he’s sitting at lunch or in the dressing room, he and Cammy will both try to pass on that information in terms of what to expect at Tynecastle as ex-Hearts players.

‘But there will probably be enough players in the team who have already played there.’