Craig Gordon, Nathaniel Atkinson, Craig Halkett, Alex Cochrane, Barrie McKay, Yutaro Oda, Kyosuke Tagawa. Seven players who are set to miss Heart of Midlothian's trip to Ross County on Saturday afternoon. You could add Cammy Devlin to that list if he fails to recover from his illness.  

For the club's support, they are familiar with a frustrating injury list. They only have to go back to last season when a number of the club's key stars were absent.

"It's a frustration but it's football, it happens," he said after being asked about injuries. 

READ MORE: Denholm's deal, starting on front foot game plan and injury update - Naismith Q&A

It was at that point in his press conference that the realisation struck. Despite the underwhelming start to the season, Naismith has never sought to use it as an excuse to explain away a defeat or performances. How many bosses do you hear opening with 'I don't want to make excuses' only for it to be followed by a 'but' and then a nod towards the treatment room?

Naismith has spoken of the mental and physical fatigue from European involvement - something the team handled much better last season with four wins, two defeats and a draw after a Thursday match. But he's never been proactive in highlighting injuries which have occured in the first two months or the players he has been without during his spell in charge, namely Craig Gordon and Craig Halkett. Individuals who make the team better, both individually and collectively.

Expanding on the impact of those injuries.

"I don't think we've been able to play the front four consistently, or in two, three games in a row, which inevitably changes the dynamic," Naismith said. "The connections between players and players who haven't had that many minutes, it takes them time to get to the flow of it. So it has an impact and it is a frustration.

"It's not as if we've lost two or three and we've had a period when we can do it, it's drip-fed all the way through that we seem to be losing some players. At times, it's unavoidable injuries that are just part and parcel of football."

READ MORE: The evolution of Cammy Devlin: Stats, positive signs, coach insight

Naismith is correct about not being able to play a front four consistently. In fact he has not played the same attack once in the first 12 games which perhaps explains the lack of goals. Lawrence Shankland has been the only ever-present. Oda and Kenneth Vargas have started seven each. Liam Boyce is on six, while Alex Lorwy and Barrie McKay have started three and two games respectively. Grant got his first in the League Cup win over Kilmarnock.

There have been some encouraging signs under Naismith, notably in the win over Rosenborg and recent wins over Aberdeen and Kilmarnock. But they have been overshadowed by the struggles, namely plenty of possession with not enough end product. As the StatsBomb graph shows, in comparison to last season (read), the team are averaging more shots and more clear shots per 90 minutes but the team's xG and xG per shot has fallen. The latter suggests the team are not making as many good chances as last campaign.

For the first time in his Hearts career Shankland has gone six matches without a goal. The team have underperformed what is expected of them in front of goal, scoring seven from an xG of 7.03. Considering how tight games have been, that is already significant. As for Shankland, his conversion from open play has dropped from 12 per cent last season to six per cent so far this campaign. In terms of creation and opening up defences McKay has been a huge miss despite the view held by some that he disappointed last season.

But more than that, there has been a lack of fluency, a lack of chemistry. Lowry, Tagawa and Vargas are all new, Boyce has just returned. The constant flux in the final third is a valid reason as to why things haven't quite clicked.

Yet, Killie boss Derek McInnes noted the influence of Vargas and Shankland during the week. Grant seemed to enliven the club's captain and top scorer. A step in the right direction.

Naismith said: "I must say, the ones that have needed time, I think the majority of them are settling in and are comfortable with it and understand, one, their surroundings and, two, Scottish football and how it is different to most leagues around the world."

Even without McKay, Oda and Tagawa, Hearts still have more than enough threat and variety in the attacking third to get back on track in front of goal. It is hoped those players will carry on the increased purpose shown against Kilmarnock in Dingwall.