Robbie Neilson has delivered an update on his Hearts stars with key man Craig Halkett close to returning to top team action.
The Jambos stopper is a vital player for the capital club but has found game-time hard to come by after breaking down following a previous return from the sidelines against RFS in Riga. That has left the Tynecastle boss not wanting to take many risks with his defender - who will train today.
It's not positive news for Stephen Kingsley who will more than likely be out until after the World Cup due to a hamstring issue. His boss has labelled him as being 'outstanding' for the club and he's played the most top team minutes this term alongside Alex Cochrane. Stephen Humphrys, who has impressed since joining on loan from Wigan, is another who is on the treatment table at present with Neilson confirming he could be potentially back for Thursday or Sunday. It is a pain issue for the striker and it is a case of whenever that settles down and he feels comfortable.
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The Hearts boss said: “[Craig] Halkett will train today, then it will be deciding what is best for him. We brought him back early for the RFS game in Latvia because we needed him and he broke down. We aren’t going to take too many risks with him because he is such a key player for us.
“Stephen [Kingsley] will probably be out until after the World Cup break. He’s got a hamstring issue and it’s disappointing for him. Stephen has been outstanding for us and has played the most minutes along with Alex Cochrane. We have had to ask him to go again and go again.
"Now he has this period to get himself back to full fitness. With the World Cup break coming up, it gives a number of our players a chance to focus on that and come back afterwards in top form.”
He continued: “It’s a pain thing for him [Humphrys] so potentially he could be back for Thursday, or potentially Sunday. We don’t really know because it’s just whenever that settles down. He got a jar in his ankle so it’s not a muscular injury. The boys are in today, a number of them will train and we will see where we are after that.”
Elsewhere, midfielders Cammy Devlin and Peter Haring could be back for Thursday's trip to Turkey. The Jambos round off their Europa Conference League campaign before facing three more Premiership fixtures ahead of the World Cup shutdown.
Yesterday's 2-1 win over Ross County has moved the Gorgie side into the top six and just three points behind city rivals Hibs in third spot - with a game in hand.
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