Robbie Neilson has revealed Hearts are still looking to book a game in as part of their trip to Spain as he hailed the 'massive difference' Craig Halkett made on his return to action.
The key defender was pitched in earlier than planned in the 1-1 draw with Livingston after Kye Rowles was sent-off in the Tynecastle draw. The plan was always to give the defender the last five or ten minutes to ease him back in but he got more minutes than expected.
Neilson and Co have had a busy schedule in the first half of the season as they juggled domestic matters with Europa Conference League group stage football. Those extra games on top of a mounting injury list tested the capital club to the limit with the main aim to be in contention for third going into the shutdown. The break will offer much-needed rest for the Jambos to refuel while help injured stars get back for the second part of the season.
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Speaking about Halkett, Neilson told Edinburgh Evening News: “It’s brilliant to get him back. You could see the difference he made right away, especially winning those first contacts against physical teams like Livingston – when you have to win it.
“They get a lot of link ups and flick-ons from off Joel Nouble. He’s a good player. But the first ball goes up and Craig empties him and puts it right back down their throat. It makes a massive difference.
“We were planning to bring him on anyway. The plan was to give him five or ten minutes. He probably got 15 minutes instead, maybe more with the added time. I’m delighted to get him back. He adds real aggression to the back line.
“He could probably do with games, but Stephen Kingsley is exactly the same. They are probably in the same boat. But now we have this break, they can recover and get back to it."
On the winter-training camp in La Cala, near Malaga he added: “We’re trying to get a game but we don’t have anything booked yet.
“We need to see who is about and try to take a game on.”
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