Steven Naismith has revealed that Liam Boyce and Cammy Devlin will miss out for Wednesday’s Premiership encounter at home to Rangers – but there was good news for Heart of Midlothian supporters as the head coach confirmed that Craig Gordon, Craig Halkett, Barrie McKay and Nathaniel Atkinson are available for selection.
Both Boyce and Devlin picked up injuries during Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Easter Road, with the former being substituted off after 30 minutes in Ayrshire. Devlin made it through to the final whistle but was struggling to move by the end of the contest.
"They both had bangs, so they will be struggling for [the Rangers game]," Naismith told Hearts TV.
"In terms of injuries, they are better than first expected but tomorrow will probably come too quickly for both of them."
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There were more positive updates with regards to Hearts’ four long-term injuries. Gordon and Halkett, neither of whom have featured for the first team since suffering serious injuries in a 2-2 draw with Dundee United on Christmas Eve last year, are back in contention following their lengthy lay-offs.
McKay, meanwhile, hasn’t played since September’s 4-0 win over Partick Thistle in the last 16 of the League Cup, and Atkinson has been absent since the defender was stretchered off in a 1-0 defeat away to St Mirren later on in the same month.
Naismith added: "They are all probably now at the stage where they are in contention.
"Definitely in the next month, but over the next couple of weeks I am certain that the squad is going to change game-to-game with injuries, with who we want to put on the pitch, who we feel is most valuable for that game.
"In the coming weeks I imagine there will definitely be changes.
"Each game is different. Some might be involved tomorrow, some might not be. Some might be involved next week. But it all depends on the other players in the squad. That’s all you’re getting!"
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