Whether you like the term or not, the Old Firm fixture is back in the Scottish top flight.

Rangers' third promotion in four years brings with it a renewed rivalry with Celtic - and a new sense of anticipation ahead of the Scottish Premiership season.
Despite beating their city rivals in last season's Scottish Cup semi-final, the Ibrox club know they have to up the ante if they are to attempt to compete with the Hoops on a weekly basis and challenge the reigning champions.
The capture of much-admired teenager Jordan Rossiter from Liverpool was a sign of early intent by manager Mark Warburton and the addition of fellow midfielders Joey Barton and Niko Kranjcar has added box-office, if ageing, appeal.
Celtic showed their determination to make it a sixth title in a row by replacing manager Ronny Deila with Brendan Rodgers, with reports suggesting that the former Liverpool manager is now the highest-paid boss in Scottish football history.
The Northern Irishman bided his time before revealing the first part of his Parkhead masterplan, but the arrival of teenage striker Moussa Dembele from Fulham is being viewed as one well worth waiting for.
Former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool centre-back Kolo Toure, followed as Rodgers returned to a tried and trusted face from his time at Anfield.
Elsewhere, Premiership managers are operating at English League One and Two level in terms of budget and quality, while Kilmarnock scouted around the fringes of Premier League and Championship clubs before announcing 11 signings in one day.
The Ayrshire side appear to be in most trouble if League Cup form is any guide. However, with just about every squad being strengthened this summer, it is difficult to predict who will struggle along with them at the foot of the table.
Last season: 2nd
Manager: Derek McInnes
Summer priority: Scott Brown and Adam Collin, who had been on loan from Rotherham United, failed to take their opportunity after Danny Ward returned to Liverpool in January, leaving Derek McInnes seeking a new goalkeeper this summer. The Dons boss will hope that Joe Lewis, at 28, still in his prime as a goalkeeper, will show the form that led to him gaining experience in England's top two divisions. Former Scotland cap Neil Alexander has arrived from Hearts as reliable, if ageing, back-up.
Key signing: With the return of loanee Simon Church to MK Dons and the failure of David Goodwillie to make an impact, the Dons moved swiftly to secure two strikers. Jayden Stockley arrives from Bournemouth but has only scored consistently while on loan in England's League Two with Exeter City, while Miles Storey merely showed promise on loan to Premiership rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle from Swindon Town and manager Derek McInnes will hope that at least one of them can step up a level.
Verdict: 3rd. Derek McInnes has improved the depth of his squad in attack and in goal, but central defence and creativity in central midfield remain a concern if they are to mount a challenge for the title or even hang on to the runners-up spot for a third year running.
In: Jayden Stockley, forward (Bournemouth); Joe Lewis, goalkeeper (Cardiff City); Neil Alexander, goalkeeper (Heart of Midlothian); Miles Storey, forward (Swindon Town); Callum Morris, defender (Dundee United); Anthony O'Connor, defender (Burton Albion). Loan:James Maddison, midfielder (Norwich City); Wes Burns, forward (Bristol City).
Out: David Goodwillie, forward (Plymouth Argyle); Willo Flood, midfielder (Dundee United); Scott Brown, goalkeeper; Barry Robson, midfielder (retired); Michael Rose, defender (Ayr United); Kalvin Orsi, forward; Lukas Culjak, defender; Sam Robertson, defender; Liam Lambert, defender. Loan ended: Simon Church, forward (MK Dons); Adam Collin, goalkeeper (Rotherham United). Loan: Cammy Smith, forward (Dundee United); Danny Rogers, goalkeeper (Falkirk); Lawrence Shankland, forward (St Mirren); Aaron Lennox, goalkeeper (Raith Rovers); Daniel Harvie, defender (Dumbarton); Robbie Mutch, goalkeeper (Arbroath).
Last season: 1st, Scottish Premiership champions
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Summer priority: Celtic's defence creaked last season under the rigours of European competition and a series of injury problems meant that cover at centre-half is even more pressing and new manager Brendan Rodgers turned to Kolo Toure, who was with him at Liverpool, as a reliable, if ageing, addition.
Key signing: With Colin Kazim-Richards and Carlton Cole being unceremoniously shipped out the back door after a disastrous few months in Glasgow and fellow striker Anthony Stokes' failure to secure a new deal despite helping Hibernian to Scottish Cup glory, a partner or rival for Leigh Griffiths was a must for Brendan Rodgers. Snatching Moussa Dembele after his exit from Fulham appears to be a shrewd piece of business considering his 17 goals in the English Championship last season at the age of only 19.
Verdict: 1st. Brendan Rodgers inherited an over-abundance of midfielders and has yet to trim that area of a squad that still requires more strength in depth in defence and up front. Celtic are likely to have enough in reserve to win a sixth successive domestic title even without such changes despite the return of city rivals Rangers, but significant progress in Europe depends on it.
In: Brendan Rodgers, manager; Chris Davies, assistant manager (Reading); Scott Sinclair, midfielder (Aston Villa, undisclosed); Kolo Toure, defender (Liverpool); Dorus de Vries, goalkeeper (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed); Cristian Gamboa, defender (West Bromwich Albion, undisclosed); Moussa Dembele, forward (Fulham, undisclosed); Kristoffer Ajer, midfielder (Start, undisclosed); PJ Crossan, forward (Dunfermline Athletic, undisclosed).
Out: Ronny Deila, manager; John Collins, assistant manager; Colin Kazim-Richards, forward (Coritiba, undisclosed); Stefan Scepovic, forward (Getafe, undisclosed); Charlie Mulgrew, defender (Blackburn Rovers); Anthony Stokes, forward (Blackburn Rovers); Darnell Fisher, defender (Rotherham United); Stuart Findlay, defender (Newcastle United); Jack Breslin, defender (Hamilton Academical); Carlton Cole, forward; Ciaran Lafferty, forward (Dunfermline Athletic). Loan: Saidy Janko, defender (Barnsley); Michael Duffy, midfielder (Dundee); Scott Allan, midfielder (Rotherham United); Paul McMullan, forward (Dunfermline Athletic); Jamie Lindsay, midfielder (Greenock Morton); Aidan Nesbitt, forward (Greenock Morton); Luke Donnelly, forward (Alloa Athletic); Colin McCabe, goalkeeper (Stenhousemuir); Fiacre Kelleher, defender (Peterhead).
Last season: 8th
Manager: Paul Hartley
Summer priority: While Dundee manager Paul Hartley has added to his squad in all areas apart from goalkeeper, his priority will be the retention of Greg Stewart, who has been linked with Rangers among others as he enters the final year of his contract, following the sale of Kane Hemmings to Oxford United split up the deadliest strike partnership in the Scottish Premiership.
Key signing: Persuading winger Danny Williams, along with fellow midfielder James Vincent, to make the switch from Premiership rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle and adding Michael Duffy on loan from Celtic could provide the width to their attack that Dundee lacked last season.
Verdict: 8th. Almost as soon as Paul Hartley found himself a potent strike force, he was having to construct a new one. Such is the way of the Scottish Premiership manager and he will be hoping that Faissal El Bakhtaoui can prove as prolific as the departed Kane Hemmings if his side are to challenge again for the top six.
In: Kevin Gomis, defender (Nice); Danny Williams, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); James Vincent, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Mark O'Hara, defender (Kilmarnock); Yordi Teijsse, forward (Quick Boys); Faissal E Bakhtaoui, forward (Dunfermline Athletic). Loan: Michael Duffy, midfielder (Celtic).
Out: Greg Stewart, forward (Birmingham City, £500,000);Kane Hemmings, forward (Oxford United, undisclosed); Paul McGinn, defender (Chesterfield); Gary Harkins, midfielder (Ayr United); Daryll Meggatt, defender (Ayr United); Kevin Thomson, midfielder (Tranent); Thomas Konrad, defender; Andy Black, defender. Loan ended: Arturo Juan Rodriguez Perz-Reverte, forward (Cordoba). Loan: Josh Skelly, forward (Arbroath).
Last season: 10th
Player/manager: Martin Canning
Summer priority: Michael McGovern's contract came to an end, along with defender Lucas, and the goalkeeper's performances for Northern Ireland at Euro 2016 secured a move to Norwich City.  Remi Matthews headed in the opposite direction on loan and will compete with Gary Woods, who was on loan to Ross County last season but has now left Leyton Orient.
Key signing: With Ziggy Gordon having rejected a new contract and joined Partick Thistle, Accies have brought in teenager Jack Breslin from Celtic as a replacement, but midfielder Massimo Donati, who was previously with Bari, could have a significant influence should the 35-year-old retain the qualities he showed previously with Celtic.
Verdict: 10th. Martin Canning had a hard act to follow in Alex Neil and the player/boss has still to fully convince the Accies faithful. He will surely do so if he can steer his meagre resources to another finish above the relegation places.
In: Massimo Donati, midfielder (Bari); Georgios Sarris, defender (Kayseri Erciyesspor); Danny Seaborne, defender (Partick Thistle); Rakish Bingham, forward (Hartlepool United); Gary Woods, goalkeeper (Leyton Orient); Jack Breslin, defender (Celtic); Jordan McGregor, defender (Hibernian). Loan: Remi Matthews, goalkeeper (Norwich City); Sean McKirdy, midfielder (Heart of Midlothian).
Out: Michael McGovern, goalkeeper (Norwich City); Ziggy Gordon, defender (Partick Thistle); Chris Mandiangu, midfielder (Zilina); Jon McCracken, goalkeeper (Norwich City); Steven Boyd, midfielder (Albion Rovers); Lucas, defender; Kemy Agustien, midfielder; Oumar Diaby, forward; Colin Granger, defender; Victor Gutsul, forward. Loan ended: Carlton Morris, forward (Norwich City). Loan: Conor Scullion, midfielder (Airdrieonians).
Last season: 3rd
Head coach: Robbie Neilson
Summer priority: Abiola Dauda is back at Vitesse Arnhem following his loan spell, so Hearts were again looking for a new striker. Head coach Robbie Neilson has increased the odds of finding a goalscorer by signing four strikers - Conor Sammon, whose form has resulted in a slip from the Premier League down to League One in recent seasons, Robbie Muirhead, who has failed to shine at both Dundee United and Partick Thistle but is still just fresh out of his teens, Tony Watt, who is recovering from injury and has been sent out on loan from Charlton Athletic, and 19-year-old Nikolay Todorov from Nottingham Forest.
Key signing: With Juwon Oshaniwa having failed to live up to his reputation as a Nigeria international, Hearts have brought in Belgium-born Faycal Rherras to compete for the left-back role and he has already impressed.
Verdict: 5th. Head coach Robbie Neilson and director of football Craig Levein have had the resources to create a squad that managed a creditable third-place finish in their return to the top flight. However, there remains a suspicion that the one-dimensional whole is less than the sum of its parts, although Tony Watt could be an exciting addition should the striker at last fulfil his promise.
In: Faycal Rherras, defender (Sint-Truiden); Viktor Noring, goalkeeper (Lyngby); Conor Sammon, forward (Derby County); Bjorn Johnsen, forward (Litex Lovech); Krystian Nowak, defender (Pdobeskidzie Bielsko-Biala); Robbie Muirhead, forward (Dundee United); Paul Gallacher, goalkeeper (Partick Thistle); Nikolay Todorov, forward (Nottingham Forest). Loan: Tony Watt, forward (Charlton Athletic).
Out: Neil Alexander, goalkeeper (Aberdeen); Morgaro Gomis, midfielder (Kelantan); Blazej Augustyn, defender; Miguel Pallardo, midfielder; Soufian El Hassnaoui, forward; Liam Henderson, defender (Falkirk); Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, defender; Sean McKirdy, midfielder. Loan ended: Abiola Dauda, forward (Vitesse Arnhem). Loan: Jordan McGhee, defender (Middlesbrough); Billy King, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Sean McKirdy, midfielder (Hamilton Academical); Juanma, forward (Murcia); Gavin Reilly, forward (Dunfermline Athletic); Alistair Roy, forward (Stenhousemuir); Nikolay Todorov, forward (Cowdenbeath); Lewis Moore, midfielder (Cowdenbeath); Callum Morrison, midfielder (Stirling Albion).
Last season: 7th
Manager: Richie Foran
Summer priority: Having lost or shed six midfielders over the summer, new manager Richie Foran will be looking to add to that department and find someone with the creativity that exited with the sale of Ryan Christie to Celtic last season.
Key signing: With Miles Storey having preferred to join Aberdeen from Swindon Town after his loan spell at Caledonian Stadium, Richie Foran managed to persuade Scott Boden to reject a new deal at Newport County, where he scored 15 times last season, and will hope the 26-year-old can make the step up from England's League Two to Scotland's top flight.
Verdict: 7th. Caley Thistle finished a difficult season impressively under John Hughes once their injury problems started to ease and new manager Richie Foran will ice doing well if he can match that while ditching his predecessor's passing system with a more direct approach.
In: Lonsana Doumbouya, forward (Cercle Brugge); Brad McKay, defender (St Johnstone); Jake Mulraney, midfielder (Queens Park Rangers); Kevin McNaughton, defender (Wigan Athletic); Scott Boden, forward (Newport County). Loan: Billy King, midfielder (Heart of Midlothian); Larnell Cole, midfielder (Fulham).
Out: John Hughes, manager; Danny Devine, defender (Partick Thistle); Danny Williams, midfielder (Dundee); James Vincent, midfielder (Dundee); Dean Brill, goalkeeper (Motherwell); Nat Wedderburn, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic); Jordan Roberts, midfielder (Crawley Town); Calum Ferguson, forward (Albion Rovers); Liam Hughes, midfielder (Barrow); Richie Foran, forward (retired); Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo, forward; Calum Howarth, defender; Ryan Williams, midfielder. Loan ended: Miles Storey, forward (Swindon Town). Loan: Jamie Insall, forward (East Fife); Jason Brown, midfielder (Arbroath).
Last season: 11th
Manager: Lee Clark
Summer priority: Manager Lee Clark has moved swiftly to reshape the squad he inherited midway through last season and, having discarded eight defenders, it was easy to see where his priority lay, and five have already been recruited to bolster Kilmarnock at the back.
Key signing: Having retained an experienced spine to his squad, Lee Clark has taken a gamble by recruiting 11 players of 23 or under to make up the rest of his squad. They all come from the fringes of English clubs, with the most well known to Scottish fans being former Scotland Under-21 midfielder Callum McFadzean, who had fallen out of favour at Sheffield United. However, the most intriguing is striker Souleymane Coulibaly, who signed for Tottenham Hotspur after starring for Ivory Coast at the Under-17 World Cup but was last year loaned to Newport County by Peterborough United.
Verdict: 12th. Lee Clark managed to steer the side he inherited clear of relegation via a play-off win over Falkirk, but the Englishman will do well to avoid another scrap at the bottom unless his rapidly assembled team of signings from his homeland adapt swiftly to the Scottish top flight.
In: Dapo Kayode, defender (Dinamo Bucuresti); Callum McFadzean, midfielder (Sheffield United); Martin Smith, midfielder (Sunderland); Souleymane Coulibaly, forward (Peterborough United); Jordan Jones, midfielder (Middlesbrough); Jamie Cobain, defender (Newcastle United); Joshua Webb, defender (Aston Villa). Loan: Oliver Davies, goalkeeper (Swansea City); Mark Waddington, defender (Stoke City); Jonathan Burn, defender (Middlesbrough); George Green, midfielder (Burnley); Luke Hendrie, defender (Burnley); Scott Boyd, defender (Ross County); Charlee Adams, midfielder (Birmingham City); Flo Bojaj, forward (Huddersfield Town); William Boyle, defender (Huddersfield Town).
Out: Josh Magennis, forward (Charlton Athletic, undisclosed); Julien Faubert, defender (Aris Saloniki); Mark O'Hara, defender (Dundee); David Syme, defender (Partick Thistle); Chris Johnston, midfielder (Raith Rovers); Jamie Hamill, midfielder (Queen of the South); Kevin McHattie, defender (Raith Rovers); Lee Ashcroft, defender (Dunfermline Athletic); Tope Obadeyi, forward (Dundee United); Mark Connolly, defender (Crawley Town); Craig Slater, midfielder (Colchester United); Kallum Higginbotham, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic); Conor Brennan, goalkeeper (Raith Rovers); Dale Carrick, forward (Livingston); Conrad Balatoni, defender; Lee McCulloch, defender (retired); Alex Henshall, midfielder; Darryl Westlake, defender; Aaron Splaine, midfielder. Loan ended: Lee Hodson, defender (MK Dons); Stuart Findlay, defender (Celtic).
Last season: 5th
Manager: Mark McGhee
Summer priority: With David Clarkson and Wes Fletcher exiting Fir Park, manager Mark McGhee moved to secure Jacob Blyth. The striker joined Leicester City at the same time as Jamie Vardy and hopes that tips from the England international will help him make an impact in Scotland's top flight.
Key signing: Ben Heneghan had been linked with the Burnley, Hull City, Blackburn Rovers and Brighton after impressing with Chester in England's National League. However, the 22-year-old has chosen to move to a club where he has received assurances about first-team football.
Verdict: 6th. Motherwell will miss the influence of Stephen Pearson in midfield, but Mark McGhee, now with former Scotland forward James McFadden as his assistant, has managed to keep together most of the side that did so well to finish in the top six last season and has imported some added potential from English football.
In: Jacob Blyth, forward (Leicester City); Dean Brill, goalkeeper (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Carl McHugh, midfielder (Plymouth Argyle); Richard Tait, defender (Grimsby Town); Craig Clay, midfielder (Grimsby Town); Ben Heneghan, defender (Chester). Loan:Luka Belic, forward (West Ham United).
Out: Stephen Robinson, assistant manager (Oldham Athletic); Ben Hall, defender (Brighton & Hove Albion, undisclosed); Marvin Johnson, midfielder (Oxford United, undisclosed); Stephen Pearson, midfielder (Atletico de Kolkata); Robbie Leitch, midfielder (Burnley, undisclosed); David Clarkson, forward (St Mirren, loan to permanent); Josh Law, midfielder (Oldham Athletic); Wes Fletcher, forward (The New Saints); Jack Leitch, midfielder; Brett Long, goalkeeper. Loan ended: Connor Ripley, goalkeeper (Middlesbrough); Morgaro Gomis, midfielder (Hearts). Loan: Louis Laing, defender (Notts County); Craig Moore, forward (Ayr United); Luke Watt, defender (Stranraer).
Last season: 9th
Manager: Alan Archibald
Summer priority: Frederic Frans, Danny Seaborne and Gary Miller all rejected new contracts at Firhill, leaving manager Alan Archibald seeking a new central defence. Danny Devine brings experience from Premiership rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but Ziggy Gordon appears to be the most astute signing after the right-back attracted the attention of several clubs after deciding to leave Hamilton Accies.
Key signing: Ade Azeez won the play-off penalty that helped Wimbledon win promotion to England's League One but rejected a new contract to join Thistle. The Glasgow club will be required to pay the Wombles compensation, so they must think the 22-year-old striker will be a worthwhile investment.
Verdict: 9th. Despite interest from elsewhere, and from Inverness Caley Thistle in particular, Alan Archibald managed to keep a hold of key midfield trio Stuart Bannigan, Steven Lawless and Abdul Osman and that could go a long way to helping Thistle again avoid relegation trouble.
In: Ade Azeez, forward (Wimbledon, undisclosed); Adam Barton, midfielder (Portsmouth, undisclosed); Ziggy Gordon, defender (Hamilton Academical); Chris Erskine, midfielder (Dundee United); Danny Devine, defender (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); David Syme, defender (Kilmarnock).
Out: Frederic Frans, defender (Lierse); Mathias Pogba, forward (Sparta Rotterdam); Gary Miller, defender (Plymouth Argyle); Paul Gallacher, goalkeeper (Heart of Midlothian); Chris Duggan, forward (East Fife); Danny Seaborne, defender (Hamilton Academical); Marc Waters, goalkeeper (Queen's Park); David Crawford, goalkeeper; Jordan Leyden, midfielder; Scot Whiteside, defender. Loan ended: Aidan Nesbitt, midfielder (Celtic). Loan: Kevin Nisbet, forward (Ayr United).
Last season: 1st in Scottish Championship
Manager: Mark Warburton
Summer priority: Rangers were vulnerable at times in central defence last season and manager Mark Warburton has recruited Clint Hill after the 37-year-old's release by Queens Park Rangers to add extra steel, if not pace, to that department.
Key Signing: Warburton has sought to completely reshape his midfield and, while Jordan Rossiter, who was highly rated at Liverpool, could be the most exciting addition in the long run, Joey Barton, fresh from leading Burnley to the Championship title in England, is the man they will look to for extra bite, presence and leadership.
Verdict: 2nd. Mark Warburton's side brushed aside the predicted threat of Hibernian in last season's Championship thanks to their greater consistency while suggesting they will be force again in the top flight by knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup. Adding quality and experience in the shape of Niko Kranjcar and Barton, they are likely to be the reigning champions' closest challengers.
In: Niko Kranjcar, midfielder (New York Cosmos); Joey Barton, midfielder (Burnley); Philippe Senderos, defender (Grasshoppers); Joe Garner, forward (Preston North End, undisclosed); Matt Gilks, goalkeeper (Burnley); Jordan Rossiter, midfielder (Liverpool); Clint Hill, defender (Queens Park Rangers); Joe Dodoo, forward (Leicester City, undisclosed); Lee Hodson, defender (MK Dons); Josh Windass, midfielder (Accrington Stanley); Matt Crooks, midfielder (Accrington Stanley).
Out: Cammy Bell, goalkeeper (Dundee United); Nicky Clark, forward (Bury); Nicky Law, midfielder (Bradford City); Maciej Gostomski, goalkeeper (Korona Kielce); Luca Gasparotto, defender (Falkirk); Przemyslaw Dachnowicz, midfielder (Annan Athletic); Jamie Mills, defender (Stirling Albion); Dean Shiels, midfielder; David Templeton, midfielder; Andy Murdoch, midfielder; Darren Ramsay, midfielder. Loan ended: Gedion Zelalem, midfielder (Arsenal); Dominic Ball, defender (Tottenham Hotspur); Billy King, midfielder (Heart of Midlothian). Loan: Tom Walsh, midfielder (St Mirren); Ryan Hardie, forward (St Mirren); Liam Kelly, goalkeeper (Livingston).
Last season: 6th
Manager: Jim McIntyre
Summer priority: County manager Jim McIntyre appears to have targeted his back line for improvement next season, with four of his five signings being defenders and the other a goalkeeper, but the sale of Jackson Irvine to Burton Albion means midfield reinforcements are also required.
Key signing: Big things were expected for Jay McEveley when he won his first Scotland cap. That was back in 2007 and he never quite made the expected move to England's top flight, but the 31-year-old left-back has still been playing regularly at a reasonable level with Sheffield United.
Verdict: 11th. Jackson Irvine was a driving force in midfield as County achieved their highest-ever league finish and Jim McIntyre will be doing well to match that achievement without the Australian.
In: Jay McEveley, defender (Sheffield United); Tim Chow, midfielder (Wigan Athletic); Christopher Routis, defender (Bradford City); Kenny van der Weg, defender (Breda); Aaron McCarey, goalkeeper (Wolverhampton Wanderers); Erik Cikos, defender (Slovan Bratislava).
Out: Jackson Irvine, midfielder (Burton Albion, undisclosed); Richard Foster, defender (St Johnstone); Rocco Quinn, midfielder (St Mirren); Stewart Murdoch, midfielder (Dundee United); Brian Graham, forward (Hibernian); Raffaele De Vita, midfielder; Chris Robertson, defender; Peter Tait, goalkeeper; Darren Moffat, midfielder. Loan ended: Gary Woods, goalkeeper (Leyton Orient). Loan:Scott Boyd, defender (Kilmarnock); Kyle MacLeod, forward (Elgin City).
Last season: 4th
Manager: Tommy Wright
Summer priority: With captain Dave Mackay ruled out for the second half of last season, Saints looked short at the back, but the 36-year-old is back in training and manager Tommy Wright has added right-back Keith Watson, who had top-flight experience with Dundee United, from St Mirren.
Key signing: While Paul Paton, the new arrival from Dundee United, is much admired for his graft and leadership, it is the signing of Blair Alston from Falkirk that could give a new element of creativity and vigour to an often staid midfield.
Verdict: 4th. Chairman Steve Brown heeded manager Tommy Wright's warning that he would have to increase the playing budget as a result of Rangers adding their spending power to the Premiership and together they had added some quality signings that will give them a chance of a sixth consecutive top-six finish.
In: Richard Foster, defender (Ross County); Paul Paton, midfielder (Dundee United); Blair Alston, midfielder (Falkirk); Keith Watson, defender (St Mirren); Michael Coulson, midfielder (York City). Loan:Joe Gormley, forward (Peterborough United).
Out: John Sutton, forward (St Mirren); Brad McKay, defender (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Simon Lappin, midfielder; Michael Doyle, defender (Greenock Morton); Scott Brown, midfielder (Peterhead); Plamen Krachunov, defender; Jordan Millar, goalkeeper; Neil Martyniuk, defender (Edinburgh City); Greg Kerr, forward; Bradley Sinclair, forward. Loan ended: Darnell Fisher, defender (Celtic). Loan: Scott Roberts, midfielder (Raith Rovers); Mark Hurst, goalkeeper (East Fife); Jason Kerr, defender (East Fife); Craig Thomson, midfielder (Stranraer); Greg Hurst, forward (Berwick Rangers).


Adama Diomande scored twice as Hull City battled past League Two's Exeter City in the EFL Cup second round.

The hosts took the lead with Jake Taylor's stunning long-range strike but Diomande equalised for the Premier League side within two minutes.
Joel Grant fired wide for the Grecians before Diomande turned and finished in the area for his second.
Substitute Robert Snodgrass' late 25-yard free-kick secured the Tigers' place in round three.
Hull had only 13 fit senior players for their opening two Premier League games and made seven changes for this match, with debuts handed to goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak and academy products Jarrod Bowen and Greg Olley.
Caretaker boss Mike Phelan has now won all three games this season after being put in charge following Steve Bruce's exit in July.
Match ends, Exeter City 1, Hull City 3.
Second Half ends, Exeter City 1, Hull City 3.
Attempt missed. Harry Maguire (Hull City) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner,  Hull City. Conceded by Christy Pym.
Corner,  Hull City. Conceded by Troy Brown.
Foul by Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City).
Connor Riley-Lowe (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Jake Livermore (Hull City) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Greg Olley (Hull City).
Jordan Tillson (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. David Meyler (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Joel Grant (Exeter City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt blocked. Joel Grant (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Exeter City. Connor Riley-Lowe replaces Craig Woodman.
Substitution, Exeter City. David Wheeler replaces Jake Taylor.
Goal!  Exeter City 1, Hull City 3. Robert Snodgrass (Hull City) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Robert Snodgrass (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lloyd James (Exeter City).
Substitution, Hull City. Robert Snodgrass replaces Shaun Maloney.
Goal!  Exeter City 1, Hull City 2. Adama Diomande (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Shaun Maloney.
Attempt saved. Jake Taylor (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner,  Exeter City. Conceded by Shaun Maloney.
Substitution, Exeter City. Ollie Watkins replaces Ryan Harley.
Attempt missed. Jarrod Bowen (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Corner,  Hull City. Conceded by Christy Pym.
Attempt saved. Tom Huddlestone (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Foul by Jarrod Bowen (Hull City).
Craig Woodman (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Lloyd James (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Foul by Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City).
Jake Taylor (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Adama Diomande (Hull City).
Troy Brown (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Hull City. Tom Huddlestone replaces Greg Luer because of an injury.
Foul by Shaun Maloney (Hull City).
Lloyd James (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Adama Diomande (Hull City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Greg Luer (Hull City).
Troy Brown (Exeter City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Joel Grant (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.


Ben Foden and Christian Day are among four players to have agreed new deals with Northampton Saints.

Full-back Foden, 30, has played 174 times for the Premiership side and been capped 34 times by England.
Second-row Day, 32, has made 175 Saints appearances and is also chairman of the Rugby Players' Association.
Saints academy graduate hooker Mikey Haywood, 24, and wing Jamie Elliott, 23, who have both played over 100 games, have also signed new deals.
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said: "Having players like Mikey and Jamie come through the academy system to become important members of the first-team squad is very pleasing, and a good indicator of the outstanding work that is being done by our coaches across the region."
Both Foden and Day arrived at Franklin's Gardens in 2008, and have helped Northampton win one Premiership title, two European Challenge Cups and one LV= Cup, as well as playing in a Heineken Cup final.
Foden told BBC Radio Northampton: "I spoke to Jim early doors and he asked me 'what are your thoughts?' There's nowhere else I'd rather be than Northampton.
"Since coming back to the Premiership I've been part of the whole building process. I think we're one of the top teams in England and Europe.
"I've still got plans on winning major silverware and hopefully I can do that at Northampton."
The lengths of the deals have not been disclosed.


Nicola Sturgeon has claimed any plans for a so-called hard Brexit are "dead in the water" following the election result.

Scotland's first minister was speaking as she called for a "short pause" in the Brexit process so consensus can be built on the best way forward.
She wants membership of the European single market and the customs union to be at the heart of the process.
But Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted the UK will be leaving both.
The UK government has also previously rejected Ms Sturgeon's calls for the Scottish government to be involved in the Brexit talks, and for Scotland to keep its single market membership even if the rest of the UK leaves.
Responding to Ms Sturgeon's call, a spokesman for the prime minister said: "We gave a commitment right at the very outset of this process to consult with the devolved administrations and that remains the case."
He went on to say "there would be no change" to the government's plans.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn confirmed on Sunday that his party - like Mrs May - was also committed to leaving the EU and pulling out of the single market, while seeking a "jobs-first Brexit".
But some senior Conservatives - including Chancellor Philip Hammond and the party's Scottish leader, Ruth Davidson - have called for the economy to be prioritised over immigration control.
Ms Davidson, who met Mrs May in Downing Street on Monday, wants a new approach that would build cross-party support for an "open Brexit".
Formal talks between the UK and EU are due to begin on 19 June - although there have been suggestions they could be delayed by a few days.
Ms Sturgeon argued that the instability caused by last week's election result meant the UK's approach to the negotiations had to change.
Speaking as she met her party's MPs at Westminster, Ms Sturgeon said the approach Ms May was taking to Brexit "simply cannot stand" after the Conservatives lost their Commons majority in the election.
She said: "I'm calling today for a process that is opened up to include more voices, all parties and all four nations of the UK and an approach that has continued membership of the single market at its heart.
"The prime minister has got to recognise that she asked for a strengthened mandate for a hard Brexit, and voters across the UK refused to give her that, and she cannot simply carry one as if nothing has changed.
"The Tory cabal kicking up a hard Brexit approach is dead in the water."
Ms Sturgeon also questioned whether the prime minister could form a functioning government, adding: "The idea that the UK led by this prime minister and this government can just blunder into negotiations starting one week today, I just don't think it's a credible proposition."
Mrs May is currently attempting to secure a deal that would see the Democratic Unionist Party support her minority government, which has confirmed that next week's Queen's Speech could be delayed.
Ms Sturgeon's proposals for Brexit include the involvement of the UK's devolved governments in the negotiations, and the re-establishment of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) on EU Negotiations.
She also wants a cross-party advisory group to be set up, including representatives from the devolved administrations, to agree a new position for the UK and oversee the Brexit negotiations.
The SNP won 35 seats in the general election, down 21 on the 56 MPs it returned in 2015 but still enough to give the party a majority of the seats in Scotland.
Among the SNP MPs to lose their seat was the party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson. Stewart Hosie has been confirmed as its acting leader in the Commons with a new permanent leader due to be selected this week and announced on Wednesday evening.
Tommy Sheppard, Joanna Cherry, Ian Blackford and Drew Hendry are all standing as candidates.
The UK government's rejection of a special Brexit deal for Scotland prompted Ms Sturgeon to demand a second independence referendum when the Brexit process was formally triggered in March.
The first minister has since admitted the issue of another referendum was a factor in last Thursday's vote, and stated the party would reflect on its plans amid calls for it to be taken off the table.
She has turned her focus to the UK's Brexit approach as other political leaders, including Ms Davidson and Scottish Secretary David Mundell, called for more consensus on Brexit.
Speaking on Saturday, Ms Davidson said: 'I want to ensure that we can look again at issues like Brexit, which we know we are now going to have to get cross-party support for, and move to a consensus within the country about what it means and what we seek to achieve as we leave."
She has previously said she wants the UK to have the "largest amount of access" to the single market after Brexit.
And there have been suggestions she will use the influence of her party's new Scottish MPs to push for what she describes as an "open Brexit" that prioritises the economy over curbing immigration.
Mr Mundell told BBC Scotland that he had always believed it would be possible to build a consensus, particularly in Scotland, for what the Brexit negotiations should achieve.


Bradley Johnson scored twice as Derby County eased past 10-man Hull City to aid their Championship play-off hopes.

Derby took the lead when Craig Bryson teed up Chris Martin who hit the post but Johnson fired in the rebound.
The hosts doubled their lead when some fine play on the wings led to Johnson firing in from close range.
Hull's Moses Odubajo was sent off for bringing down Tom Ince after the break before Martin powered in a long-range effort and Bryson tapped in late on.
It was a night of few chances for Steve Bruce's side as they were comprehensively outplayed by Derby, however Sam Clucas came closest to finding a breakthrough when his volley from Ahmed Elmohamady's ball forced a fine save out of Derby keeper Scott Carson.
Derby, who failed to win in six at home against Hull prior to the victory, remain sixth in the Championship table but have a four-point cushion on seventh-placed Cardiff after their goalless draw with leaders Burnley.
Defeat for Hull, their first away at Derby since October 1984, means they stay in fourth place but see their already-unlikely chances of automatic promotion fade as they lie seven points off second.
The Tigers suffered their heaviest league defeat of the season leaving them without an away win in the Championship since their 1-0 win against Ipswich in February.
Derby head coach Darren Wassall:
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"We were bitterly disappointed on Saturday with the result at Cardiff and we asked for a reaction from the players and they certainly gave us one tonight.
"We are delighted with the performance and there was a steely determination tonight, we played with loads of energy on the front foot and they all responded.
"I think that was our best performance of the season so far by a country mile but I'm not getting carried away at all. Our feet are on the ground and we are making sure we are right for Saturday.
"We need to get some consistency, we've proven that we are a very good side, now we've got to prove we can do that week in, week out, game in and game out because good teams can do it every single week."
Hull manager Steve Bruce:
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"On a big stage tonight, we haven't performed at all to the level I'm used to seeing.
"In a big top-of-the-table clash to make the mistakes and errors we made was just bordering on the ridiculous.
"That disappoints me and surprises me because the reason we are at the top end of the league is our ability to defend and defend properly and although there was nothing in it up until the first goal, after that we were all over the place."


Eighteen is an age that is meant to mark the start of a time of maturity...

But 18 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, politics in Northern Ireland still shows signs of growing pains.
Yet amid the many crises at Stormont, it is easy to forget the progress that has been made since the peace deal was first published in April 1998.
To the current generation of school-leavers and job-starters, the widespread violence that scarred towns and cities for decades is history they have learned at school - not experiences they lived through like their parents and grandparents.
Rowan Armstrong, a first year engineering student at Edinburgh University, says that when he tells young people from Scotland and England he is from Northern Ireland, "they ask is everything okay".
"They seem to think the Troubles are still ongoing and they don't realise how far we have come," said the 19-year-old.
"You just want to take them somewhere like the north coast and they would just fall in love with it."
The stretch of coastline near Portrush and Portstewart offers spectacular scenery and big waves.
Rowan and his friend Ross Hayburn regularly surf in the sea there, but they are doubtful if there will be enough job opportunities to keep them in Northern Ireland in the long-term.
The new troubles are linked to the economy, rather than paramilitaries.
"From speaking to people who have been to university, they say all the jobs are in England, Scotland and further abroad," says Ross, who is on a gap year.
"In terms of staying here for job prospects, I would say it's easier to find [work] in other countries."
Keeping the brightest and best graduates is a real challenge for the power-sharing government at Stormont.
On Wednesday evening, politicians from the Northern Ireland Assembly's main parties will face first-time voters in a televised BBC debate in Belfast.
They are being called the 'Good Friday Generation', because this will be the first election in which anyone born after the signing of the agreement will be able to vote.
Despite the progress of the years since that deal, politics remains a divided and at times divisive business.
Unionists and nationalists may share power, but it is in an enforced coalition and disagreements have, on several occasions, threatened the future of the ruling executive.
"It is a bit of a mess," said Callum McKinney of Loreto College in Coleraine.
"They always seem to be arguing and never seem to get along.
"I think they are holding us back."
Callum was part of a group of sixth-form students and first-time voters we spoke to from both Loreto and Coleraine Grammar School.
One of the major sources of problems at Stormont in recent months has been the failure to agree a process to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.
But many of the 18-year-olds - who grew up in a time of relative peace -  were frustrated by that continued focus on the past.
"Maybe it's because the older generation did have to grow up in a time when there was a lot more segregation and violence between the communities," reasoned Hannah Anderson of Coleraine Grammar.
"But I do believe the younger generation are a bit more open-minded."
"If they want more young people to vote for them, they need to focus on things that really concern them, such as university fees."
The other big issues they singled out were related to the economy, abortion reform and the failure to introduce same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland - all subjects that have been the source of dispute at Stormont.
However, there was also a recognition of the difference power-sharing has made, even if it is imperfect.
"If you look at Northern Ireland maybe 30 or 40 years ago, you can see it was in chaos," noted Gareth Doherty, one of the sixth-formers.
"There was really no form of progressive government then but if you look at it now it really has come a long way.
"It is a lot better than it used to be."
Change does not happen overnight and politically the assembly is still evolving.
But perhaps 18 years after the agreement, politics in Northern Ireland is beginning to come of age.
Election 2016 - the Good Friday Generation, Wednesday 20 April 21:00 BST, BBC One Northern Ireland and the BBC News Channel.


A motoring organisation has called for Edinburgh Airport to review its "sky high" car parking charges.

The RAC also urged Scotland's busiest airport to be "clearer and more transparent" with its parking charges.
It follows a RAC survey which showed Edinburgh Airport charged £3.90 to park for 15 minutes. It also said Aberdeen Airport was "very expensive" to park at £2 for 15 minutes.
Edinburgh Airport said it offered a free pick up and drop-off area.
However, it is reached by shuttle bus and costs £5.90 if the motorist stays for more than 30 minutes.
Pete Williams, RAC head of external affairs, told the BBC Scotland news website: "It would be popular with motorists if Edinburgh Airport was to review its charges.
"We would also urge that they were clearer and more transparent with parking charges.
"There are also an array of car parks, which makes it increasingly confusing for motorists and hard to notice the high costs if you stay over the time.
"Drivers are running the risk of incurring some hefty charges if they drive to a pick-up zone to collect somebody whose flight is delayed, or who has to wait a long time at baggage reclaim.
"Also Glasgow is free for drop-offs beside the terminal so there is a huge disparity between airports."
An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: "Edinburgh Airport is one of only six of the major UK airports to offer a free pick up and drop off area - this is a popular service that we are committed to maintaining.
"Edinburgh Airport is now one of the most competitive airports in Europe, offering direct flights to scores of destinations across Europe, North America and the Middle East.
"To provide that range of choice and quality facilities for passengers - such as our paid-for drop-off area - we invest millions of pounds at the airport and seek a modest contribution from the people who use the facilities to ensure that investment is sustained over the long-term and Edinburgh has an airport of which it can always be proud."
An Aberdeen International Airport spokesman said: "In April this year we increased the length of stay in the drop off zone from 10 to 15 minutes and the fee increased from £1 to £2 to reflect this.
"Customers are able to park in the short stay car park for 20 minutes at the same price and, importantly, a free drop off area is still available in the long stay car park. There was no change for blue badge holders.
"Those with a valid badge are still entitled to a free 30 minute period in the clearly marked blue badge spaces within the short stay car park, which are the closest spaces to the terminal."


A close aide of Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has been killed in an attack on his car in the capital, Bujumbura.

Gen Adolphe Nshimirimana was a former army chief of staff and intelligence chief.
The attackers targeted his car in the Kamenge district reportedly with machine guns and rocket launchers.
Burundi has been racked by unrest since April, when Mr Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term in office.
Opponents argued this contravened the constitution and there was a failed coup attempt in May.
A presidential election was then held last month which Mr Nkurunziza won, but which was boycotted by the opposition.
Gen Nshimirimana was reportedly in charge of the president's personal security and had been central in cracking down on protests.
Witnesses to the attack said four men in military fatigues had sprayed the car with bullets.
Other witnesses said rockets were also fired.
Presidential adviser Willy Nyamitwe told Reuters: "He has been killed by a bullet... He was in the car with some bodyguards but I don't know exactly what happened."
In a Twitter message Mr Nyamitwe said (in French): "I have lost a brother, a companion in the struggle."


The makers of the new Star Wars film, have released a new teaser.

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28 August 2015 Last updated at 09:05 BST
The 15 second clip from the new film Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, does not give away any of the latest storyline.
It shows a huge army of Stormtroopers and the character Finn, played by John Boyega, holding a blue lightsaber and facing an enemy in a forest.
The film is due for release in the UK in December.


England head coach Eddie Jones has appointed 2003 World Cup winner Richard Hill as England team manager.

The former back-row forward, who was capped 71 times by England and represented the British and Irish Lions, will start his post next week.
Jones and Hill previously worked together when the Australian was director of rugby at Saracens.
"Richard is an icon of English rugby," said Jones. "I am in no doubt that Richard will excel in his role."
Since retiring through injury in 2008, the 43-year-old has worked for his former club Saracens and the Rugby Football Union. Most recently, he was team manager on the England Saxons tour of South Africa in the summer.
Jones added: "Richard's responsibilities will range from maintaining England Rugby's internal and external relationships to providing mentoring and support for players and management.
"It is important we use the knowledge of former international players and keep a historical link with the past."
"This is not a manager role like in football - Hill is unlikely to have a hands-on coaching or selection role, but will still be an integral part of the set-up and will act as a sounding board for England players and management.
"Eddie Jones is keen to forge strong links with past international players, and World Cup winner Hill is one of England's all-time greats."


The families of two pilots who died in a light aircraft crash in Essex have paid tribute to them.

Essex Police named the men as Francis Simmonds, 46, from Luton, and Robert Bull, 40, from Hornchurch.
The pilots were killed when their Beechcraft King Air 200 came down in a field near Chigwell on Saturday.
Mr Simmonds' family said he was a "devoted husband and dad", while Mr Bull was described by his family as a "very happy, fun-loving man".
The plane was owned and operated by London Executive Aviation (LEA), which said it had just taken off from nearby Stapleford Airfield and was heading for Brize Norton in Oxfordshire when it crashed just before 10:20 BST.
Mr Bull, who was the captain of the eight-seater aircraft, had been a pilot since 2003, a job "he had always wanted to do", his family said.
"Rob would always go out of his way to help people and nothing was too much trouble for him.
"He was the glue that held everyone together and his family and friends are devastated by our loss," they said.
The family of Mr Simmonds, the plane's first officer, also said becoming a pilot had been his boyhood dream.
"He loved every day of his job. His death leaves a gaping hole in our hearts and lives," they added.
Essex Police said its officers were continuing to assist investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Board.


Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt is not well enough to tour with the band this autumn, it has been announced.

The 67-year-old had a heart attack in Turkey in June, leading doctors to tell him to rest for the rest of the year.
Band manager Simon Porter said the guitarist "died" for several minutes after an attack that left him with "mild cognitive impairments".
Parfitt was "recovering well", but was "far from being fit enough to undertake the rigours of Quo's touring schedule".
The band will continue to use guest musicians until the end of 2016, among them Irish guitarist Richie Malone.
Freddie Edwards, son of the band's bass player John "Rhino" Edwards, also stepped in for Parfitt during the band's summer concerts.
Porter said of Parfitt that he is receiving neuropsychological support, adding: "His medical team continue to be confident of a full recovery, but Rick's absolute priorities for the foreseeable future are for his health and well-being."
The band manager conceded that Parfitt "may well have performed his last show with Quo" but said that no final decision would be made until next year.
Parfitt will use his recovery period to compose songs for a solo album which he plans to record early next year, his statement continued.
Status Quo are scheduled to kick off their Last Night of the Electrics tour in Vienna, Austria, on 12 October.
The tour, which runs until Christmas, comes to the UK later that month with a date at the SSE Arena in Belfast on 28 October.
Status Quo have had more than 60 chart hits in the UK, including Rockin' All Over the World, Whatever You Want and In the Army Now.
In 1991 they received a Brit Award for their outstanding contribution to music.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Graeme McDowell surged into contention for a second US Open title in three years going into day four at Olympic.

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The 32-year-old Northern Irishman shot 68 to finish one under alongside 2003 champion Jim Furyk (70) with Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson (68) two back.
Lee Westwood made his move for a first major with a 67 for two over with two-time champion Ernie Els (68), Nicolas Colsaerts (71) and Blake Adams (70).
Tiger Woods struggled from the start and carded a 75 to end four over.
Clubhouse scores in full
Also on three over were 17-year-old amateur Beau Hossler, fellow Americans Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson, John Peterson and Kevin Chappell and Australian John Senden.
McDowell clinched his maiden, and so far only, major title down the California coast at Pebble Beach in 2010 and was followed to US Open glory by countryman Rory McIlroy last year. Victory for the man from Portrush would also mean a fourth major title in three years for Northern Irish players after Darren Clarke won the Open last year.
McDowell followed eight opening pars with a bogey on the 449-yard ninth at a hot and sunny Olympic Club in San Francisco.
But on the more scoreable back nine he holed putts of four feet on the 10th, 10 feet at the short 13th and then another four-footer for birdie at the last.
"It was hard work getting the right mindset," said McDowell, who clinched the winning point for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in 2010.
I'm definitely still in the ball game. I'm only five back and that's certainly doable on this golf course
"I can draw a lot from [Pebble Beach]. My emotions were the same as two years ago. If I can keep preparing for majors like I am doing, I'll put myself in position to win others so tomorrow's not the be all and end all."
The 42-year-old Furyk, who won his sole major at Olympia Fields nine years ago, was the joint third-round leader with Woods and David Toms (76) and held firm as his fellow Americans slipped back.
Woods, bidding for a 15th major title four years after his last, could not match the control and putting prowess of the previous two days and dropped four shots inside his first eight holes. A solitary birdie on the ninth was followed by bogeys at 16 and 18.
The 36-year-old has never won a major coming from behind going into the final round, but Lee Janzen came from five strokes back to win the last time the US Open was staged at Olympic in 1998.  The biggest final-round comeback in US Open history was Arnold Palmer's seven shots at Cherry Hills in 1960.
"It was frustrating," said Woods. "I struggled on the greens quite a bit - they looked quick, but they putted slow.
"It was just one of those days where I was right in between clubs on about every single shot.
It's a great final-round draw for both Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk - two similar players and former champions who were in each other's company for the first two rounds as well. And Tiger Woods will no doubt draw some of the crowd away as he tees off over an hour before them. You would certainly have to favour the final group if you were to look for a winner, but if Lee Westwood can start to hole just a few of the 10-15 footers that Furyk drops so regularly then perhaps, at last, he can join the major club.
"I'm just going to have to shoot a good round, post early and see what happens.
"It's not like where you have to go out there and shoot 62 and 63. This is a US Open - you just need to hang around.
"I'm definitely still in the ball game. I'm only five back and that's certainly doable on this golf course for sure."
Westwood, playing in his 57th major, was four over through his first six holes on Thursday playing alongside McIlroy and Luke Donald but as the world's top two players missed the cut, the Worksop star edged his way into the tournament.
The 39-year-old followed up his opening 73 with a 72 before making his move from tied 29th, mixing two bogeys with five birdies including a 40 footer on the 18th.
Westwood missed out on the play-off by a shot in the 2008 US Open, and has had six other top threes in majors since then, including third behind McIlroy at Congressional last year.
"I think every time you get yourself in contention you learn something new," said Westwood, who was tied seventh at Olympic in 1998.
"I've been in contention a lot in different kinds of positions, leading, coming from behind. And in this tournament and other tournaments, the Masters, I finished third, so I was in contention there.
"I pick little bits out of all of those, but the main thing is just to go out there and believe that I'm good enough."
The last Englishman to win a major was Nick Faldo in 1996, while the only US Open winner from England was Tony Jacklin in 1970.
Jacobson, 37, who won his maiden PGA Tour event last year, has a best finish of tied fifth in a US Open, behind Furyk in 2003.
South Africa's Els, who chipped in for an eagle on the 17th, won the tournament in 1994 and 1997 and would break the record for the longest gap between US Open titles should he win on Sunday. Julius Boros (1952-63) and Hale Irwin (1979-1990) hold the record at 11 years.


A flat fire in which two men died started "in or around the tumble dryer", a fire investigator has told an inquest.

Bernard Hender, 19, and Doug McTavish, 39, died in the blaze above a funeral director's office in Llanrwst, Conwy county, in October 2014.
The Abergele inquest is examining if a Hotpoint dryer caused the fire.
Fire investigator Paul Jenkinson said the exact cause of the ignition could not be established.
He said he had ruled out other possible causes, including an iron which was plugged in a utility room.
US parent firm Whirlpool had issued warnings to unplug some dryer models over potential fire fears.
Garry Lloyd Jones, 50, who lived in the flat, told the hearing on Wednesday the tumble dryer had been switched off when he went to bed the night before.
But when he woke at about 06:00 the following morning, the flat was filled with smoke.
He said: "I just remember walking down the corridor to see what was going on and seeing flames coming out of the tumble dryer.
"I went down to the living area and went to the kitchen and there was nothing there but when I looked out of the kitchen window I could see an orange glow."
He said the smoke was becoming thicker and he shouted for Mr McTavish to "get out".
He described trying to pull Mr Hender from his bed and telling him to "get to the floor" where the smoke was less dense.
"I said 'dive to the floor'," Mr Lloyd Jones told the inquest.
"He said 'I can't find the door' and he just screamed and that was the last I heard of him."
Notices had previously been issued by Whirlpool telling customers to unplug Hotpoint, Creda and Indesit models manufactured between 2004 and 2015 after a potential fire risk was identified.
Dominic Adamson said an expert report showed in this case coins, collar stiffeners, bits of plastic and lint were in the machine after the fire.
But Mr Lloyd Jones said he used to remove the lint from the filter regularly.
Assistant coroner David Lewis said the hearing would try to establish whether the tumble dryer was the cause of the blaze.
He added: "I am not interested, should it transpire the tumble dryer is implicated in some way... in trying to establish a precise failure.
"It is not the role of the coroner to set himself up as an engineering expert."
The hearing is continuing and is expected to last three days.


Manager Russell Slade has done a good job at Cardiff City, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a Bluebirds fan to say so.

The former Leyton Orient boss took the Cardiff to the brink of play-offs despite wage cuts, enforced player sales and a transfer embargo.
Yet Slade's position is being scrutinised as owner Vincent Tan mulls over some key summer decisions  - with the decision due soon after their final game of the season against Birmingham City.
The manager's unpopularity with many fans could feature heavily on Tan's mind as he deliberates on whether the man who has stabilised the ship can actually take the club forward.
Some would consider it miraculous that Slade kept Cardiff's battle for the Championship play-offs alive until the penultimate game of the season.
Their hopes were finally dashed with the 3-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, as the Owls claimed the final play-off spot.
Cardiff will finish no lower than eighth this season compared with 11th last term.
This was achieved against a backdrop of wage reductions and the loss of leading scorers Kenwyne Jones and Joe Mason in January when a transfer embargo was slapped on the club for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
The previous season he was forced to reduce the bloated squad he inherited from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Slade appears to have operated in conditions akin to having one hand tied behind his back, and yet the doubts over his ability never disappeared.
The hangover from the row over Tan's decision to switch the club's colours from blue to red - and then back again - appeared to affect  Slade's early popularity early in his reign.
However, a visit from the owner in January not only bolstered Slade's position as manager, but appeared to placate the dissenters.
Cardiff attracted just over 15,000 for their important home win over Ipswich Town on 12 March, but a ticket offer ensured a club-record 28,680 were present to see them beat promotion chasing Derby on 2 April.
Despite a hibernation, the doubts over Slade re-emerged.
An almost inexplicable decision to "rest" consistent midfielder Stuart O'Keefe in the defeat against Fulham drew much criticism.
A perception he was reactive rather than proactive over substitutions has also attracted fans' disapproval, especially the belated entrance of Kenneth Zohore in the 2-1 defeat at Brentford.
His unwillingness to use young talent like Wales international Declan John has also drawn the ire of the fans.
But it's results that might ultimately have sealed his fate. One win in six league games since the victory over Derby on 2 April culminated in the dispiriting defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.
Fans who travelled to Hillsborough complained on the BBC Radio Wales Sport's phone-in of a meek, cautious performance when a win was needed to keep the season alive.
Slade can rightly point to the six sides above Cardiff having greater spending power.
Now it is up to Tan to decide whether Slade's "progress" is enough to justify him being given another shot at getting Cardiff back to the Premier League.
Slade's position is only one of the questions Tan has to answer this summer.
The indications are fans who want Tan to splash the cash this summer may be disappointed. Coming out of the transfer embargo will help, but a spending spree seems unlikely.
That could help Slade's prospects because he has shown he can keep the club away from the danger zone on a tight budget.
If Tan was to commit to spending big, then a manager proven at Championship level with a record of achieving promotion would have seemed an obvious target.
Cardiff fans have always wanted West Bromwich Albion's Welsh head coach Tony Pulis and would still want him if he was to leave The Hawthorns.
The fact that Slade was not Pulis is one of the reasons why they did not take the current boss to their hearts.
If Pulis is not an option, Tan could consider a manager with more presence and with a better track record of promotion or he could decide on a young, hungry coach.
Craig Bellamy, who is diligently educating himself to prepare for management, would be hugely popular with the fans, but whether Tan could cope with such a fiercely independent character is open to doubt.
The dressing room reaction would be interesting but Bellamy would undoubtedly help sell season tickets.
While Tan's ultimate quest is to find someone to take the club forward, change is a risk.
But after the failure to hit the target of the Championship play-offs this season - Tan might feel too many fans the club has worked hard to attract back will not accept the status quo.


The first human trials of a new vaccine to prevent a leading cause of serious illness in babies have been a success, say researchers.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) affects two-thirds of babies in their first year and is a major cause of hospital admission in the UK.
Early trials of the jab, which uses a harmless virus instead, have shown promising results in adults.
Experts said that although still years off, an RSV vaccine was much needed.
RSV is especially dangerous in those born prematurely or with other respiratory problems.
It also causes severe illness in otherwise healthy infants and is responsible for one in six admissions of children to hospital in winter months.
In the developing world it is second to malaria as a killer of children under one.
A vaccine has long been sought, but success has been hampered by trials in the 1960s when immunised children went on to have extreme reactions when faced with the infection.
It took researchers a long time to work out what went wrong and other vaccine prototypes over the years have failed to produce sufficient immunity.
The latest vaccine, developed and initially tested by biotechnology firm Reithera, uses genetic engineering to trick the immune system into thinking that it is dealing with RSV.
This "viral vector" technology is the same as that used in the new Ebola vaccines.
It contains a harmless virus that cannot cause illness, and which has been modified to produce some RSV proteins on its surface, the journal Science Translational Medicine reports.
Researchers from the Oxford Vaccine Group tested two candidates - one using a chimpanzee cold virus never before used in humans and the other a harmless pox virus - in 42 adult volunteers.
In tests with a nasal spray and injection, the vaccines were found to be safe and produced an immune response.
It is the first stage in many years of trials.
The team is about to embark on tests of another vaccine using the same technology that is being specifically designed for use in children.
Other types of RSV vaccine are in development and US researchers recently announced positive results in older adults.
Study leader Dr Christopher Green, a clinical research fellow at Oxford University said what was particularly exciting about the viral vector technology used in their trials was that similar vaccines, including ones for malaria, had already been successfully used in infants.
"This is encouraging data," he said. "The results of this trial are a positive signal that prevention of RSV is achievable."
Dr Charlie Weller, senior portfolio developer at the Wellcome Trust, said the results were "extremely promising".
"The next steps will be key in order to determine whether the immune responses induced by this vaccine are sufficient to protect against RSV, particularly in the very young and very old, who are at a higher risk of infection."
Dr David Elliman, immunisation expert for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "This [RSV] has always been considered an important infection and one you would want a vaccine against."


Storm Frank is causing disruption with a number of homes across Northern Ireland without electricity.

29 December 2015 Last updated at 19:55 GMT
The worst of the storm is due to hit later on Tuesday evening.
Clodagh Rice reports.


Manchester United suffered their third defeat in a week as late goals from Juan Zuniga and Troy Deeney gave Watford a deserved Premier League win.

The hosts led when Etienne Capoue converted Daryl Janmaat's cut-back, only for Marcus Rashford to level from close range.
Zuniga powered in with seven minutes to go, 53 seconds after coming on.
And Deeney then scored a penalty in injury time after Marouane Fellaini fouled Zuniga in the box.
Following a derby defeat by Manchester City last weekend and the midweek Europa League loss to Feyenoord, Mourinho and United have had a rough eight days.
It is the first time Mourinho has lost three consecutive games in a season since February 2002, when he was Porto boss.
But the self-proclaimed "Special One", who has won eight league titles across Europe and the Champions League twice, has now lost 11 of his past 21 Premier League games in charge of Chelsea and Manchester United.
Mourinho made five changes to his starting line-up from the trip to the Netherlands, with Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic restored to the side, but United were disorganised and ineffective, particularly in the first half.
The United boss looked unhappy with the home side's opening goal, feeling Anthony Martial was fouled by Miguel Britos, but he will surely need to look more closely at his own side's failings as they drifted six points behind league leaders Manchester City.
Rooney, Ibrahimovic and £89m Paul Pogba all struggled to make an impact on the game and at the back United failed to cope with Watford's energetic pressing and the crosses from wing-backs Janmaat and Jose Holebas.
Pogba, who returned to Old Trafford from Juventus in the summer, continued to look far from being the most expensive player in the world, although he was deployed in a deep midfield role alongside Fellaini that did little to get he best out of the France international.
He did have United's best effort in the first half, hitting a 25-yard dipping shot that struck the crossbar.
But his attacking talents were wasted so far away from the opposition's goal and, after starting the past five games, Mourinho will have to consider dropping Pogba or changing his system to accommodate the 23-year-old.
While most of Mourinho's side toiled, the rise of Rashford continued, as the 18-year-old England striker scored on his first Premier League start of the season, taking his tally to 10 in 23 games.
He even started the move for his goal, playing a one-two with Ibrahimovic, whose cross dropped to Rashford's feet for an easy finish from five yards out.
Hornets boss Walter Mazzarri, who managed Zuniga at Napoli, leapt for joy when the midfielder applied the finish to Roberto Pereya's cut-back with his first touch.
Mazzarri had numerous run-ins with Mourinho during their time in Italy - with former Inter manager Mourinho saying the Italian was a hard-working "donkey" that would "never become a thoroughbred".
Mazzarri, who took over at Vicarage Road in the summer, insisted before the game that he and the Portuguese get on fine now, but he could not hide his delight when his side went 2-1 up and danced on the side of the pitch.
With numerous chances in the first half, including an open goal for Odion Ighalo after keeper David de Gea dropped the ball, Mazzarri's men should have been further ahead at the break, but scored a thoroughly deserved opener when Martial was dispossessed and Janmaat teed up Capoue.
Watford looked like their pressing game had taken the energy out of their performance as United improved in the second half, but they responded late on for their second win of the season and first at home.
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri:
"It is a very important three points to give my players the confidence to go ahead.
"We were playing well, we conceded a goal and we stop playing. We were afraid then we made the changes and everything went the right way - it is something we need to work on.
"I don't look too much at results but how we play. We have been improving dramatically."
And what about a drink with Mourinho after the game? "If he has time we will do it. We spoke before the game - even one day next week we can go out for dinner."
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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho:
"I reflect on three factors from the match, but only one of them I can improve.
"The first factor depends on ourselves, it relates to our individual mistakes and collective mistakes as individual players and as a team. We have to improve something, it is in our hands.
"At 1-1 everyone thinks we are going to win the game. We were showing complete control, intensity, creation.
"But their second goal is a mistake that goes against our plan and our training, because our intention was for their wing-backs to be pressed and not let them progress.
"And what happened was the guy gets the ball 20-25 metres away from our box and instead of being pressed, we give him the space to progress. Nordin Amrabat receives the ball and our left-back Luke Shaw is 25 metres from him instead of five.
"The second factor is the referee and I can't control their mistakes.
"The third factor is luck, we didn't have it. We were the best team when we lost."
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Match ends, Watford 3, Manchester United 1.
Second Half ends, Watford 3, Manchester United 1.
Goal!  Watford 3, Manchester United 1. Troy Deeney (Watford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Juan Zuñiga (Watford) because of an injury.
Penalty conceded by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Watford. Juan Zuñiga draws a foul in the penalty area.
Chris Smalling (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
Roberto Pereyra (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner,  Watford. Conceded by Wayne Rooney.
Corner,  Watford. Conceded by Memphis Depay.
Foul by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United).
Miguel Britos (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Watford. Isaac Success replaces Odion Ighalo.
Memphis Depay (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Memphis Depay (Manchester United).
Nordin Amrabat (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).
Juan Zuñiga (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Dangerous play by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
Sebastian Prödl (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Troy Deeney (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
Substitution, Manchester United. Memphis Depay replaces Luke Shaw.
Goal!  Watford 2, Manchester United 1. Juan Zuñiga (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Roberto Pereyra.
Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).
Valon Behrami (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Watford. Juan Zuñiga replaces Etienne Capoue.
Offside, Manchester United. Juan Mata tries a through ball, but Marouane Fellaini is caught offside.
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Miguel Britos (Watford).
Eric Bailly (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Odion Ighalo (Watford).
Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Juan Mata.
Attempt saved. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marouane Fellaini.


Premier League side Swansea City came from behind to beat MK Dons and seal their place in the EFL Cup third round.

Ryan Seager put the hosts ahead with his first goal for the club but Leroy Fer headed in Jay Fulton's cross to equalise two minutes later.
Another Fer header made it 2-1 on the hour before Tammy Abraham netted his first Swansea goal from close range.
With four minutes of normal time left, Jordan Ayew scored with a tremendous 20-yard effort to wrap up the win.
There was bad news for Swansea however, as defender Kyle Bartley was taken off on a stretcher after an awkward landing late in the game.
Swans boss Paul Clement said: "I thought we made hard work of it. I think we had enough control of the game and the threat that we caused, we should have put it to bed in the first half.
"But we went a goal behind through a mistake, but we got back into the game.
"I wasn't particularly happy at half time and I let the players know that. We've got to be more clinical and more ruthless, but we had good control of the game and I was pleased with the end result."
Match ends, MK Dons 1, Swansea City 4.
Second Half ends, MK Dons 1, Swansea City 4.
Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Giorgio Rasulo (MK Dons).
Luciano Narsingh (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Aaron Tshibola (MK Dons).
Substitution, Swansea City. Adam King replaces Tom Carroll.
Goal!  MK Dons 1, Swansea City 4. Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Angel Rangel.
Attempt blocked. Leroy Fer (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tammy Abraham.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, Swansea City. Alfie Mawson replaces Kyle Bartley.
Delay in match Kyle Bartley (Swansea City) because of an injury.
Tammy Abraham (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Downing (MK Dons).
Attempt blocked. Leroy Fer (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mike van der Hoorn.
Substitution, MK Dons. Aaron Tshibola replaces Joe Walsh.
Substitution, Swansea City. Luciano Narsingh replaces Jay Fulton.
Tom Carroll (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Nombe (MK Dons).
Attempt blocked. Ed Upson (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Jay Fulton (Swansea City).
Ed Upson (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Leroy Fer (Swansea City).
Robbie Muirhead (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal!  MK Dons 1, Swansea City 3. Tammy Abraham (Swansea City) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Ayew.
Corner,  MK Dons. Conceded by Martin Olsson.
Substitution, MK Dons. Brandon Thomas-Asante replaces Gboly Ariyibi.
Attempt missed. Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tom Carroll.
Tom Carroll (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Tom Carroll (Swansea City).
Gboly Ariyibi (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner,  Swansea City. Conceded by Joe Walsh.
Attempt blocked. Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Tom Carroll.
Corner,  Swansea City. Conceded by Gboly Ariyibi.
Joe Walsh (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Joe Walsh (MK Dons).
Goal!  MK Dons 1, Swansea City 2. Leroy Fer (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Tom Carroll with a cross following a corner.
Corner,  Swansea City. Conceded by Conor McGrandles.
Attempt blocked. Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Carroll.


US President Donald Trump is embarking on his first overseas trip since taking office, visiting Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican - the homes of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Saudi Arabia is, on the face of it, a surprising choice of destination for Mr Trump's first overseas trip since taking office.
The birthplace of Islam, and home to the holy pilgrimage sites of Mecca and Medina, is hosting a man recently accused of Islamophobia for his failed attempts to ban visitors from six Muslim-majority countries.
In February 2016, during his presidential election campaign, he suggested that Saudi officials had been complicit in the 9/11 attacks. "Who blew up the World Trade Center?" he said. "It wasn't the Iraqis, it was Saudi - take a look at Saudi Arabia, open the documents."
So what has changed since then? A lot, is the answer.
As president, Mr Trump has decided that one way of distancing himself from the foreign policies of his predecessor Barack Obama is to vilify Iran and cosy up to the Saudis.
Soon after taking office in January he sent his new CIA Director, Mike Pompeo, to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, where he received red-carpet welcomes.
Then came the key turning point in forging a new relationship between Washington and Riyadh - March's visit to the White House by the young Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
The two men hit it off together immediately.
They are both currently taking their respective countries down new and risky paths - Mr Trump with his recent missile strike on Syria and his facing down the North Koreans, and the prince with his leadership of the Saudi-led war against Yemen's Houthi rebel movement.
Their primary area of shared interest was their common view that Shia power Iran represented a threat to the Middle East.
For the Saudis, Iran's Sunni regional rivals, this was music to their ears. They lost confidence in Mr Obama, some years ago, suspecting him of "going soft" on Iran in the rush to secure a nuclear deal before the end of his presidency.
Prince Mohammed emerged from that White House meeting pronouncing that he was "very optimistic" about President Trump, who he said would "bring America back to the right track".
So what exactly are the main issues under discussion when the vast US presidential machine rolls into Riyadh?
Countering the terrorist threat, specifically from so-called Islamic State (IS, or "Daesh" as Arabs call this transnational jihadist organisation), will loom large in discussions.
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), along with other Western intelligence agencies and special forces, has been helping the Saudi authorities cope with terrorism since the al-Qaeda insurgency of 2003 and before that even as far back as the 1979 siege of Mecca.
IS, a Sunni extremist group that considers Shia apostates, has bombed Shia mosques in both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. But it has also attacked Sunni mosques where security personnel worship, and it continues to plot attacks inside Saudi Arabia on both Westerners and Saudi officials.
In the 2000s, the Saudi authorities defeated the al-Qaeda insurgency through a combination of police and military action, and a public awareness campaign that turned Saudi society against the jihadists.
But today, with conflicts raging in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen, the problem has returned with sizeable numbers of young Saudis feeling drawn to the extreme "takfiri" ideology of IS.
Thousands have gone to Syria to fight for either IS or other jihadist groups, and many analysts accuse Saudi Arabia of being part of the problem, not doing enough to clamp down on public statements by clerics who are hostile and intolerant of other religions while exporting a narrow-minded ideology abroad.
As a presidential candidate, Mr Trump promised he had a secret plan to defeat IS.
In reality, US military strategy in the Syria-Iraq arena has not fundamentally altered course during his first four months in office, although some Obama-era checks and balances on certain operations have been lifted.
In Riyadh, there will be broad agreement about the threat posed by the jihadists of IS, but this is unlikely to translate into any new large-scale deployment of either country's forces to Syria or Iraq.
Saudi Arabia's rulers see Iran and the militias it supports as the greatest threat to the region - an allegation that is denied, not surprisingly, by Tehran.
Their Sunni-ruled neighbours, Bahrain and the UAE, also see Iran as a major threat. So too do certain key members of President Trump's administration, most notably National Security Adviser Gen H R McMaster and Defence Secretary James Mattis.
Both men served in the military and remember the frequent clashes between the US Navy and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps in the Gulf. They also recall the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 that killed more than 200 US personnel and was blamed on Hezbollah.
Mr Trump has also been vociferous in his criticism of Iran and the 2015 nuclear deal, calling it "the worst deal ever", something which has played into the hands of Iran's hardliners, who also oppose the deal.
Saudi Arabia, a Sunni-majority nation, has been locked in an on-off regional power struggle with Shia-majority Iran ever since the Islamic Revolution there in 1979.
Notable flashpoints have been stampedes at the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in which hundreds of Iranian pilgrims have been killed, and the 2016 execution by the Saudis of a Shia cleric, which sparked the ransacking of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the breaking off of diplomatic relations.
Prince Mohammad declared this month that there was no point in even talking to the Iranian regime at present.
Current Gulf Arab distrust of Iran stems from several areas: Tehran's support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad; the expansion of Hezbollah's operations outside Lebanon; the arming and training of Shia militias in Iraq; the powerful influence Tehran now exerts over the Iraqi government in Baghdad; Iranian support for Yemen's Houthi rebels; and its alleged covert encouragement of Shia insurgents in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia's restive Eastern Province.
Iran, for its part, retorts that Saudi Arabia is the root of the terrorist problem with its acquiescence towards religious intolerance and its global proselytising based on the narrow ideology of Salafism.
The Iranians point, with some justification, at the common ideology shared by IS and hardline Saudi clerics, as well as the practice of beheading prisoners. (Iran also executes a large number of prisoners annually but usually by hanging or firing squad).
Iran has pointed out that the Saudis and Qataris have spent vast sums over the last six years in funding Sunni militias in Syria in a vain attempt to defeat Mr Assad's forces.
In practical terms, the joint US-Saudi position on Iran is likely to translate into increased sales of sophisticated US weaponry; a near absence of criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record; and a reversal of Mr Obama's suspension of a contract to supply Riyadh with precision-guided munitions for air strikes that was halted last year because of mounting civilian casualties in Yemen.
When President Trump's plane lifts off from Riyadh at the end of the Saudi leg of this trip, he will be hoping to have in his pocket some promises of major Saudi investment in the US - up to $40bn (Â£31bn), according to some reports.
Find out which foreign leaders President Trump has met or called since taking office, as well as the countries he has mentioned in his tweets.
What has Trump said about your country?
His key interlocutor here will once again be Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who in addition to being defence minister is overseeing Saudi Arabia's economic development.
The prince, or "MBS" as he is often called, has huge plans to transform not just Saudi Arabia's oil-dependent economy, including the partial privatisation of the state oil giant Saudi Aramco, but also its cultural landscape.
At the risk of angering his country's conservative clerics and their supporters, the prince wants to introduce public entertainment, making Saudi Arabia "a happier place".
This will go down well with much of the country's bored and underemployed youth, and there are ample opportunities here for the US entertainment industry. But there are also dangers.
King Faisal, who ruled from 1964 to 1975, angered religious conservatives by introducing television and education for women. He was assassinated.


The chief minister of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has refused to allow eggs to be included in free meals for malnourished children reportedly because of his belief in vegetarianism.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan is said to agree with the Jain religious community, who believe eggs can harm children.
However, no direct explanation has been given for his decision, which has been strongly condemned by food campaigners.
They stress that more than half the state's children are malnourished.
Eggs, they point out, have high protein levels that are easily digested by acutely malnourished children.
Campaigners say that the state also has a high number of malnourished indigenous people who would also benefit from free eggs.
"The problem is that the upper-caste groups who are opposed to eggs in nutrition schemes are not the people who would ever need to avail of these schemes, but they are the ones who influence government policies based on their religious ideologies," food activist Sachin Jain was quoted by Scroll.In as saying.
"The communities who benefit from nutrition schemes don't share these ideologies," he said. "Meanwhile, those who are well-off don't even take any responsibility to tackle malnutrition in the state."
Madhya Pradesh is the latest of several states in India to ban eggs from free meals.


Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the independence referendum was "a once in a generation opportunity" and he was aiming for "a substantial majority".

However, Better Together leader Alistair Darling said "there is no way back" from independence and his campaign would target undecided voters.
The latest opinion polls have suggested the vote is too close to call.
Both men were speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show.
Mr Salmond said: "We're not aiming to win by one vote. We're aiming to achieve a substantial majority if we can."
He added: "We tend to take the attitude that there isn't so much as a 'No' voter in Scotland, there are only deferred 'Yeses', and that's been one of the successes of our campaign."
Asked if he would seek another referendum if there was a "No" vote on Thursday, the SNP leader said: "If you remember that previous constitutional referendum in Scotland - there was one in 1979 and then the next one was 1997.
"That's what I mean by a political generation.
"In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, this is a once in a generation opportunity for Scotland."
Mr Darling commented: "I said a year ago that this race would narrow as we got towards the wire and that is precisely what has happened.
"It's not surprising. It's the biggest single decision we will ever take.
"If we vote to leave the UK on Thursday then there's no going back. It's not like an election where you can change your mind if things don't work out.
"If things go wrong this time, we've already voted - we're leaving.
"There is no way back, which is why in the next five days we will be targeting the 500,000 or so voters who have still got to make their minds up, because the decision is that critical."
He argued there was uncertainty over whether firms would move their headquarters out of Scotland and over how the NHS and pensions would be funded if the country became independent.
And he argued that "about a million jobs here in Scotland depend on us being part of the UK".
Mr Salmond told the Andrew Marr programme that if "Yes" won there would "cease to be a 'Yes' campaign and a 'No' campaign - there will be a Team Scotland".
He said he wanted "as many voices as possible" and welcomed an indication from Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael last month that he would join such a negotiating team.
Mr Salmond said his negotiating team had "recruited specialism in a variety of fields".
The first minister renewed his claim that the Bank of England would be "a shared central bank" after independence.
"There will be a sustainability agreement between the governments in terms of borrowing levels and debt levels," he said.
"We set that out in our proposals."
The UK government has said it would not agree to a currency union with an independent Scotland, but Mr Salmond argued American economist Joseph Stiglitz had said "a shared currency is a very, very viable and common sense thing to do".
Meanwhile, Mr Darling again said the pro-Union parties would deliver more powers for the Scottish Parliament if there was a "No" vote.
"It's quite a clear choice now," he said.
"We can have faster, safer and better change, reform so that we can strengthen the health service, we can safeguard jobs.
"But you don't have the risks that come with independence, to jobs, to the funding of pensions and the health service, the uncertainty about currency."
Pressed on whether details of more powers would be available ahead of the vote, the Better Together leader said: "What has been agreed is the timetable that will bring together the proposals made by the three non-nationalist parties.
"Now that's abundantly clear that we will be able to start that process on Friday, if we vote to stay in the United Kingdom."
The interviews came after Yes Scotland campaigners claimed their private canvassing showed "the votes are there for a 'Yes' majority".
However, Better Together said the "No" vote was "holding up".
Three polls have put the "No" campaign in the lead, while one has put the pro-independence "Yes" campaign ahead.
The latest poll of polls collating the six most recent surveys - carried out between 9 and 12 September and excluding "don't knows" - puts the "No" campaign on 51% and the "Yes" campaign on 49%.
The pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign has not revealed the number of people it has talked to during its private canvassing, but claimed to have achieved a higher return than ever before.
Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall said polls showed the referendum vote was "on a knife-edge".
Better Together published a poll on Saturday suggesting 53.5% opposed independence and 46.5% backed it, when undecided voters were excluded.
The telephone poll, commissioned by Better Together from pollsters Survation, reached 1,044 respondents, with an effective sample size of 927.
Conducted between 10 and 12 September, it also pointed to a very high turnout, with 93% of voters surveyed saying they are certain to vote.
Another poll for the Observer newspaper, gave the "No" campaign a six point lead - 53% to the pro-independence campaign's 47%.
And a new Sunday Times poll - conducted by Panelbase - puts the voters who intended to vote "No" on 50.6% while the "Yes" campaign was on 49.4%.
However, an ICM poll for the Sunday Telegraph has suggested Scotland could become independent, putting the "Yes" camp in the lead. Excluding undecided voters it found "Yes" to be on 54% and "No" on 46%.
The poll was carried out between 10 and 12 September and had a sample size of 705 - smaller than many of the other polls.
A referendum on whether Scotland should become independent is to take place
Meanwhile, a leading economist has said there is "little basis" for "fear-mongering" over the economy of an independent Scotland.
Joseph Stiglitz countered the view of fellow Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, who recently warned that Scotland would face "huge risks" going it alone and told Scots to "be very afraid".
Mr Stiglitz said that while there would be risks in the event of a Yes vote, the risks of Scotland remaining in the union and UK leaving the EU would be "significantly greater".
In an article published in the Sunday Herald and the Scotsman, he urged Scots to focus on "vision and values" in the last few days before the crucial vote.
He said: "Krugman, for instance, suggests that there are significant economies of scale: a small economy is likely, he seems to suggest, not to do well.
"But an independent Scotland will still be part of Europe, and the great success of the EU is the creation of a large economic zone.
"By an order of magnitude, far more important than size is the pursuit of the right policies."


Britain's Kell Brook aims to emulate Sugar Ray Leonard when he challenges middleweight king Gennady Golovkin at London's O2 on Saturday.

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Brook, the IBF welterweight champion, is jumping two weight divisions to take on unbeaten knockout artist Golovkin.
Welterweight great Leonard came out of retirement in 1987 to beat world middleweight champion Marvin Hagler.
"I want to do what Leonard did with Hagler - use my speed, my footwork and box the perfect fight," said Brook.
"I do fear him. Of course I do. I know he's a big puncher and that nobody wants to fight him for a reason.
"But the fear is positive because it's going to make me super-sharp with cat-like reactions.
"You could see the fear in Leonard's eyes when he was in with Hagler - that's why he was so sharp and zoomed in."
Sheffield's Brook, 30, is unbeaten in 36 professional contests and has made three defences of the IBF welterweight belt he won from American Shawn Porter in 2014.
Kazakhstan's Golovkin, 34, is unbeaten in 35 pro contests, has 32 knockouts to his name and is thought by some to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
If Brook manages to beat Golovkin it would be an even bigger upset than Leonard's victory over the fearsome Hagler, who had not lost for 11 years.
However, while some observers have called the fight a mismatch, Brook believes he might be more effective at 160lb than he was at 147lb.
At the final check weigh-in on 3 September, Brook weighed 168lb, five pounds heavier than his rival.
"I'm interested in seeing what I can do at middleweight because I'm not draining myself and gaunt at the weight," said Brook, one of 14 current British world champions.
"I'm going to be fully hydrated and healthy and bring the speed and the power. I'm excited at how much energy and excitement I'll be giving to everyone once that bell goes."
Brook is attempting to succeed where domestic rival Amir Khan failed - Bolton's Khan jumped two weight divisions to fight then WBC middleweight champion Saul Alvarez in May and was knocked out in six rounds.
Golovkin, whose WBA title is not on the line against Brook, is one of the most avoided boxers in the world - Mexico's Alvarez chose to vacate his WBC title rather than fight him.