Dundee United have announced the signing of former Aberdeen skipper Scott Severin on a two-year contract.

Severin failed to settle at Watford after moving last summer and spent the last three months of an injury-interrupted campaign on loan at Kilmarnock.

The 31-year-old, who can play in midfield or central defence, made just 11 appearances for the Hornets and leaves Vicarage Road on a free transfer, subject to international clearance.

Rangers will begin their Co-op Cup defence with a third-round tie at home to Dunfermline in September, while Celtic play host to Inverness.

Rangers captured the trophy last season with a dramatic 1-0 win over St Mirren at Hampden in March.

At Hampden on Tuesday, Celtic were drawn at home against Inverness, whom they beat 1-0 on the opening day of the Scottish Premier League season.

In another all-SPL clash, Hibernian travel to Kilmarnock, managed by former Easter Road boss Mixu Paatelainen.

Aberdeen get the chance for revenge when they take on Irn-Bru First Division side Raith Rovers at Pittodrie, the Kirkcaldy men having sensationally knocked the Dons out of the Scottish Cup after a replay last season.

Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell face tricky away ties to lower league sides.

Jambos boss Jim Jefferies goes back to former club Falkirk, United take on Ross County, in what will be a repeat of last season’s Active Nation Scottish Cup final, while Motherwell travel north to Brechin City.

St Johnstone complete the draw with a home fixture against Queen of the South.

The ties will take place on Tuesday September 21 and Wednesday September 22.

League Cup third-round draw: Rangers v Dunfermline, Kilmarnock v Hibernian

Aberdeen v Raith Rovers, Falkirk v Hearts, Celtic v Inverness CT, Ross County v Dundee United, St Johnstone v Queen of the South, Brechin City v Motherwell.

Craig Levein does not believe Scotland are under any more pressure to make Euro 2012 on the back of the domestic clubs’ failings in Europe.

Celtic, Motherwell and Dundee United all failed to secure a place in the group stages of the Europa League last week, while Hibernian fell at the first hurdle.

That leaves only Rangers flying the flag for Scottish teams on the European stage after winning automatic entry to the Champions League.

The focus now shifts to the national team ahead of the double-header against Lithuania and Liechtenstein but Levein insists there is enough pressure on his players without being asked to make amends for the failings of others.

He said: “There are a lot of different things going on in Scottish football just now, there is a lot of stuff happening at the SFA with regard to change. But we will talk about that later.

“There is enough pressure on the players, the internal pressure they put on themselves to perform at the highest level.

“Talking about other things, external stuff, isn’t going to make much difference.

“We know what this is all about. Whether the club teams have done well or haven’t done well, we will be doing our best whatever happens.”

Friday’s clash in Kaunas marks Levein’s first competitive game in charge and it is a challenge he is relishing.

He said: “I’m enjoying having the players together and working with them.

“I’m looking forward to this week and getting the chance to do a bit of proper management and coaching.

“Part of the problem of being an international manager is that you don’t get enough time with the players and get to know them as individuals.

“But, the longer we spend together, the better it is for everybody. It gives you a chance to develop relationships.

“They have arrived in good spirits and I think there will be a keenness and an edge to the players this week because this is the start of it all, this is the competitive match we have been waiting for.

“I’m looking forward to it and I’m sure the lads are as well.”

Scotland may have failed to qualify for a major finals for more than a decade but veteran defender David Weir insists the current crop of players are good enough to come through the group.

“There is no doubt there is enough quality,” he said.

“You only have to look at the names on the team-sheets and the level they are playing at and the experience they’ve got to realise there is enough quality.

“It’s just a matter of producing it and doing it on a regular basis but I don’t think there is any question there is enough quality there.”

And he expects Rangers club-mate Kenny Miller to have a big part to play in these two matches, having netted five goals in the Scottish champions’ opening three SPL games.

Weir said: “He is very important. He is a proven goalscorer and he has done it for years for Scotland. He has scored a lot of goals and he has contributed a lot.

“You can see how well he has started the season for Rangers, he is in top form. When Kenny Miller is in top form, he is a handful.”

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies sees Sunday’s visit of Dundee United as a chance for his side to prove they mean business in their top-three bid.

After last season’s sixth-place disappointment, Jefferies is targeting a return to European football this time around.

The early signs are promising for the Gorgie outfit after a draw against St Johnstone and last week’s 4-0 thrashing of Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

However, Jefferies knows United pose their first serious test of their European aspirations with the Tannadice outfit finishing third last term.

Jefferies said: “I would love to go into the international break after winning the game.

“Then you could say that there is now a base to kick on and do what we set out to do, and that’s to be at the right end of the table competing.

“People have been saying it’s a different Hearts side this year and that we’re going to be a difficult team to overcome, that’s a positive sign for us.

“The performance, attitude and application have been terrific and if we show that consistently you have more chance of getting results.

“This is probably a test the fact that everyone will be looking at Dundee United being away and this might be a chance.

“They were not third for nothing, they’re a decent side.”

Jefferies is set to welcome back Eggert Jonsson for his first league game after the Icelandic internationalist missed the opening two encounters through suspension.

Jonsson played as a centre-half in Tuesday’s Co-operative Insurance Cup win over Elgin City and Jefferies admits his versatility is giving him a headache.

He said: “Finding out his best positionis a problem. On the plus side he can play anywhere and I don’t think he minds that because at least he knows that if a place comes up in the team he’s in with a chance of playing there.”

United are still looking for their first win of the season but improved considerably following their 4-0 home defeat by Inverness as they drew 1-1 against AEK Athens on Thursday while exiting the Europa League.

Left-back Paul Dixon said: “Hearts isn’t an easy one. They’ve had a good result against Elgin in midweek and will be full of confidence.

“But we need to go there and give it 100%, work hard and hopefully get the result we need.

“We were embarrassed by the 4-0 defeat to Inverness, no matter who you lose to any 4-0 defeat is an embarrassing defeat especially at home in front of your own crowd.

“We’ll be looking to rectify that. We’ve not won yet but will just focus on what’s to come and won’t worry about what’s in the past.” Meanwhile, United will seek an explanation from UEFA over the debacle surrounding their second leg in Athens.

AEK’s Olympic Stadium pitch was deemed unplayable on Monday and the replacement venue was vandalised before the Greek side secured a deal to play in Olympiakos’s stadium about 24 hours before kick-off.

A United statement read: “While Dundee United has at all times behaved with integrity this week to make sure that our Europa League play off tie against AEK Athens went ahead, we have also felt duty bound to make various enquiries to ensure the club’s position was not compromised and that, for the sake of the competition, such events do not occur again. Our supporters are also due a full explanation, particularly in view of the circumstances they were faced with.

“We would like to make it clear that there are no grounds for an official protest. This was never considered as a serious option by Dundee United and this has been subsequently confirmed by legal advice and advice from the authorities.

“However, at the request of the SFA, we will be preparing a full report on the situation and difficulties presented to the club this week and this will be forwarded by them to UEFA for a detailed response.”

Hearts midfielder Eggert Jonsson wants to make Tynecastle a fortress once more as they prepare for Sunday’s visit of Dundee United.

The Edinburgh outfit won nine of their 19 home games in last season’s disappointing sixth-place finish in the Scottish Premier League and the Iceland international reckons a trip to the capital was less daunting than it used to be.

Hearts are looking to build on the momentum of their impressive start to the season. After drawing with St Johnstone on the opening day, they overcame Hamilton 4-0 last weekend before scoring four more against Third Division side Elgin in the Co-operative Insurance Cup on Tuesday night.

Hearts are keen to get back into Europe this season and Jonsson reckons they need to make the most of home advantage.

He said: “We are only three games into the season so it’s too early to say, but we want to be hard to beat and make Tynecastle a fortress like it used to be.

“Sometimes we didn’t manage to do that last season. Jim Jefferies came in as the new manager and the team is now set up the way he wants.

“Now I think we’re going to be more hard to beat and hopefully we can use our home advantage with the fans to make it a hard place to come.”

Jonsson played and scored in the 4-0 thrashing of Elgin in what was his first appearance of the season after missing the first two SPL matches due to suspension.

The versatile player cut a frustrated figure looking on from the stands against Saints and Accies but admits the promising performances have lifted his spirits.

He said: “It’s good to be back, I had to sit out the first two games and it was really hard but I’m glad to be back.

“It was to good to play on Tuesday night, it was a good result and the whole team has had a good start to the season so it’s great to be back in the mix again.

“It’s hard watching on if you’ve worked hard during the pre-season and then you can’t contribute to the team. The team has had a good start and that’s made it easier and I’m just glad to be back now.”