Steven Naismith provides Barrie McKay Hearts injury timeline

• Lawrence Shankland praised for handling speculation
• Barrie McKay's uncertain injury timeline
• Scott Fraser will bring Hearts experience
• Goalkeeper will find out his starting role on the day of the game

Steven Naismith spoke to the media ahead of Heart of Midlothian's Premiership encounter with Dundee at Tynecastle Park on Tuesday evening.

The Hearts head coach provided an injury update, discussed Kenneth Vargas and a move for Scott Fraser, confirmed Lawrence Shankland was back at training, plus faced questions on the goalkeepers and James Wilson

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Is Lawrence back fit?

He trained today so he's back involved in the squad. Boyce is back training but not involved. Cammy Devlin is not involved as he's training individually.

How long will Barrie McKay be out for?

I don't really know. He is in a brace till the end of the month so that will dictate his return. You are probably looking at the second half of February at the quickest before he will be back involved.

With Alex Lowry gone back to Rangers and McKay out, is that the thinking behind signing Scott Fraser?

Yeah and I think it's an area of the pitch where we lack a bit of experience in that final third. That's one of the biggest things I've noticed. He brings that. He's a great age, had a great career in England. He was a big prospect at Dundee United and then moved and had a good career in England at a good level. He's a goal threat. His assists and vision in the final part of the pitch is important. I think he will be a good addition if we can get it sorted.

He's had a few really good seasons at MK Dons and Charlton?

Yeah, even at Burton he was one of the main players. He has played with Boycie but on the football side he has really good quality. There is also the character and the person. He is a really good experienced pro who wants to be better and always wants to improve. I think that has shown in his career with the level he's gone to. He has taken the next step all the time. It's a good opportunity for us to get somebody like him.

What are the chances of him being involved v Dundee?

Who knows. It's the paperwork side and the office side of stuff. He has been in, had a medical, he's been around and said he is ready to go. It's more just the process rather than anything else. It's a loan till the summer and he has another year left [on his Charlton contract].

Could you keep him on?

Let's see how he does.

You will want to make up for losing at Dundee at Dens Park?

It was disappointing that day. We didn't do enough in possession to hurt them. We had a few chances and didn't take them. We need more of a threat. The goal we lose is poor from our point of view. Dundee have come into the league and, from knowing Tony [Docherty] as a coach, they aren't happy just to survive. They want to get better and I think they have shown that as a club. We know it will be tough. It's about how quick we start, how much pressure we put them under, especially at Tynecastle. After the break, hopefully we will be fresh enough that we can get that tempo right.

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Will you be studying the team sheet closely after last time?

They have brought a few reinforcements in during the window. There could be a few changes but we will know it will be a tough game.

Is it much of a selection headache over the goalkeeping situation?

No because we have all spoken about it and all understand where everybody is and what it is going to be like going forward. There is no real issue. It is two experienced guys who are understanding. From my point of view, all I can be is honest and that's what we've been. 

Would you say Craig is more of the cup goalkeeper?

No, it's two experienced goalies fighting it out to play in the games. There is no going to be one for one and one for the other. It will be down to how well you are doing and how well you are performing. It's ultimately what it will come down to. 

Two guys who are going for the Euros so you'll be hoping it brings out the best in both of them?

I think in the last month Zander has taken his game to another level. I think a big part is down to the competition for places and that's for Zander, who has come through his career at St Johnstone and been No.1 for a long time, that the pressure comes and he's had to push on. He's shown he's done that and he's a really good goalie. We are in a fortunate position where we have two good guys who are really good goalies, both will want to go to the Euros and I've said consistently I think both give themselves a chance. 

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How excited should Hearts fans be with Kenneth Vargas in the second half of the season?

I think people forget his age. He's young, the natural ability, the characteristics of him as a player are more beyond his years, the way he uses his body and how his touch is, stuff like that. He has probably been inconsistent in the first half of the season until the end there and he's picked up. Confidence does a lot of things for you. He's full of confidence, he's shown that and he's now scoring goals which is a big part of what people define whether he is good or not.

He started off on the wing, do you see him now as an out-and-out striker?

I think he has a more natural striker mindset and mentality, the way he plays when the ball goes wide he wants to get in the box. He doesn't want to hang wide. But I think he can play wide. Against Rosenborg or PAOK at home, you could see he was very dangerous 1v1 but I prefer having players who can do that and understand that but going back to his age and experience, he has picked up these different things that you need in each position and for such a young guy it's a really good trait to have.

Would you say Vargas has been learning from the more experienced strikers at the club to help develop his game?

I think the level we are at as a squad has helped him. That intelligence of understanding what to do to get into these positions is what he’s good at. That’s a natural instinct from him. It’s a good trait for a young player. It’s just the consistency levels of performances, of goal return, of goal involvement return. The older he gets that will be more consistent. But if he keeps going where he is going he’s a real prospect.

How excited would you be to work with him for another couple of years?

He’s a big prospect. He is someone I think brings value to us and if it’s something that can be done I’m sure we will look at it because he’s definitely someone with good attributes that are hard to find in forwards never mind in young players.

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Is James Wilson going to get more chances in the second half of the season?

It was good for him to get on but he comes on the pitch because I think we need him. The reward for his hard work over the last few months has been getting in the squad but he needs to be able to compete at this level. He's still a kid, he still needs to learn how to use his body, how not to allow defenders to get the better of him but he's a really big prospect. He's somebody who has deserved to be around the first team recently but he still needs to work hard but whether he gets opportunities or not is down to him. The opportunities are there for everyone but they need to be able to take it and be at the level to get the opportunity to be in the squad. 

How did you respond to transfer speculation during your career and how can you use that to help Lawrence?

The main conversations I’ve had with him are about what happens here. The uncontrollables are he can’t dictate that there’s a move happening or there’s not a move happening. The only thing he can do is concentrate on his football. Everything else takes care of itself. As a player I found that hard to deal with. The biggest one was when I moved to Rangers from Kilmarnock and it was at the last minute. You can’t get distracted by all that but Shanks has dealt with it much better than I did as his performances have shown. All he can do it keep playing well and scoring goals.

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Do you expect the level of speculation to continue and what do you expect to happen?

‘The speculation will continue, 100 per cent, as long as he is doing well. I am not giving a judgement of what I think. I’m giving a clear picture of what could happen. Every option is open —if someone comes in with big money and he moves then he moves. If he wants to stay at the club he will sign a new contract and if he doesn’t then he will stay here because he’s got 18 months left. That’s factual. One of those outcomes will happen. I just don’t want people to not think the club hasn’t done all it can to keep him and I also don’t want pressure to go on Lawrence when it’s unfair, really, when he’s got a decision to make (on the new contract) as an individual, as a person, as someone who is employed and needs to survive for him and his family. It’s just a clear picture for everybody.

Is there any update on a new contract?

No.

Any offers or talks?

Nope, none.

Is he fit to play?

‘Yes, he trained today. I’ve not spoken to the medical team but at the moment he is. The reason he wasn’t in the building is because the medical staff assessed him and thought he shouldn’t be here. Now he’s allowed back, he’s trained and he can be available if he’s come through that all right.

Do Craig and Zander know who is playing?

No. Nobody knows the team until tomorrow. That’s the way we work it.