Hearts predicted line-up v Kilmarnock: Atkinson replacement, back 3?

Steven Naismith saw his side concede a cheap goal early on in Paisley before struggling to break down a robust Buddies rearguard to eke out a result. Hearts will be on the road again at the weekend against Ross County and could do with heading into the league fixture having reached a League Cup semi-final.

Our writers Joel Sked and James Cairney look at the options available to Steven Naismith and the possible line-ups for the match in Ayrshire. He will have to decide who replaces Nathaniel Atkinson who went for a scan on Monday, while there will be a decision to be made over the system.

READ MORE: Steven Naismith pleased to receive Hearts injury 'bonus' ahead of Kilmarnock tie

Joel Sked

Now, this is predicted line-ups. What XI we think Steven Naismith will choose to face Kilmarnock. I will get to that at the end but, firstly, I want to present the case for a tweak to the system. Since taking charge it is clear the head coach favours a back four but one might consider a back three as giving the team the best foundation for success in this particular encounter.

Without Corrie Ndaba they played a 4-4-2 against Dundee and really should have come away with three points. They are a very effective side when they win the ball back and break forward. Matty Kennedy and Dan Armstrong are the danger men out wide, Kyle Vassell a physical focal point and Marley Watkins a strong runner who can get down the sides and in behind. He is likely to be missing which could mean a change in shape but the principles remain the same. Their tracking focus centres around turnovers and the wide players being direct, capable of going down the line or cutting infield and delivering crosses which put a lot of pressure on the opposing centre-backs. 

They could have four centre-backs playing across the back. Lewis Mayo and Robbie Deas are comfortable as full-backs but they are unlikely to be much more than supportive characters in attack.

If Hearts were to go three at the back - Toby Sibbick, Frankie Kent and Key Rowles - it would provide the team with extra aerial assurance. Stephen Kingsley and Odel Offiah would be charged with shutting down the wide players, while both wide centre-backs able to provide support out wide. Playing Kennth Vargas through the middle will provide pace alongside Lawrence Shankland and Liam Boyce can operate as a No.10.

There will be the view that Hearts shouldn't have to change their style so drastically for a trip to Kilmarnock. But needs must. Hearts need to win. 

The likelihood is a back four which is Naismith's preference. There is a call to be made over Beni Baningime, whether he can start two games in the space of four days, and if there is a tweak to the lop-sided set-up against St Mirren. 

Predicted line-up: Clark; Sibbick, Kent, Rowles, Kingsely; Devlin, Baningime; Vargas, Boyce, Forrest; Shankland.

READ MORE: Pressing, passing and paucity: Where St Mirren v Hearts was won and lost

James Cairney

I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see Naismith to switch to a back three with two wing-backs for Tuesday’s trip to Ayrshire to counteract some of the specific threats that Kilmarnock pose – but, having said that, I would still expect to see the team line up in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Hopefully the lopsided formation employed for the St Mirren game, where the team effectively lined up without any attackers on the right, has been consigned to history.

Zander Clark will start in goals, of course, and the injury to Nathaniel Atkinson at the SMiSA Stadium means that the defence pretty much picks itself. Stephen Kingsley, Kye Rowles and Frankie Kent will surely hold on to their places, and I fancy Toby Sibbick to get the nod at right-back. Odel Offiah is another option here, but this game may come too soon for him after the on-loan Brighton full-back recently missed a week of training due to a medical issue.

I expect Cammy Devlin to be back in his usual role as part of the midfield pairing, but the matter of who partners him is an intriguing one. Beni Baningime was one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise fairly dour performance at the weekend but given he has played so little football, starting two matches in the space of three days may be a step too far for the former Everton man. Calem Nieuwenhof is the most likely bet to start in the middle, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Peter Haring return to the starting XI either. The Austrian looked shaky against Aberdeen but he may well be better suited to playing against a Killie side that lack pace through the middle.

Liam Boyce and Lawrence Shankland will surely lead the line in attack, and I can’t see Kenneth Vargas getting dropped either as Naismith doesn’t have too many alternatives at present. I think we’ll see the Costa Rican attacker line up on the right and on the left, I think we could see Alan Forrest come into the team. The winger possesses more pace than the alternative, Alex Lowry, and I think that could prove a useful asset against Derek McInnes’ side.

Predicted line-up: Clark; Sibbick, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley; Nieuwenhof, Devlin; Vargas, Boyce, Forrest; Shankland.

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