Hearts midfielder Perry Kitchen believes they have already shown they can compete with Celtic this season.

Kitchen got his first taste of the fixture at Celtic Park earlier this month as the hosts came back from 1-0 down to defeat Hearts 3-1.

The USA international felt the match was closer than the scoreline suggested and, ahead of Celtic's trip to Tynecastle this weekend, he sees no reason why the capital side cannot build on that display and claim a victory over the league leaders.

Kitchen said: "When you look back at that game I think we competed with them.

"We played good football but we just didn't come out on the right side of things.

"That's how it goes sometimes but I think we definitely showed we can be competitive with them.

"It's positive and we have to build off performances like that."

The 24-year-old arrived in Edinburgh in March after leaving MLS team DC United to pursue a career in Europe.

Now he is looking forward to playing on the continent, with Robbie Neilson's men's Europa League campaign due to kick off on June 30.

Kitchen said: "It is very exciting any time you get to test yourself against top teams and good players from other countries.

"That's definitely something we are all looking forward to this summer."