Robbie Neilson has provided a positive injury update on Stephen Humprhys - but the same can't be said for Peter Haring or Gary Mackay-Steven.
The Hearts striker - on loan from Wigan - suffered an injury against Celtic in the Tynecastle seven-goal thriller and has not featured since. The capital club were hoping to get a friendly in place for today but failing that an in-house game between the squad is planned with the hope that the striker will return to the field in that game.
The Premiership returns following the World Cup shutdown next week with the Jambos aiming to put a run of form together in their bid to finish best of the rest behind Celtic and Rangers once again - and with that secure another European adventure. They tasted eight games this term with six of those coming in the Europa Conference League proper.
READ MORE: Hearts boss Robbie Neilson on the 'huge' Scottish Cup Euro guarantee with Hibs derby on horizon
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The Jambos sit fifth in the table after 15 games - four behind Jim Goodwin and Aberdeen in third spot with Kilmarnock making the trip to Tynecastle in the first game back next Saturday. Providing an injury update as that game edges closer, Neilson said: “Humphs is back in training.
“We’re trying to get a game on Saturday, but it’s difficult to get one because there’s not many teams available. We might play an in-house game and I’m hoping Stephen would be back for that.”
The manager also explained how Peter Haring is still sidelined as is Gary Mackay-Steven with the big return just seven days away.
He added: "Peter still has concussion, he comes back for a couple of days and he doesn’t feel great, so it’s just one of those things.
"He has seen the specialists and they are happy with everything, we just need to make sure it’s not getting worse, which it’s not, it’s just still lingering a little bit.
“We just need to be careful. He has trained with us a few days and came out, so we’ll see.
"Gary is still struggling with his foot, that’s why he didn’t come out with us to Spain.
“He had a scan a couple of days ago and we are waiting on the results of that, it might be a shorter time or a longer time."
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