Euro dream still on for Dundee

Hearts return to Tynecastle on Saturday (kick-off 15.00) to face a Dundee side boosted by their participation in the post-season top six and a squad still dreaming of playing European football next season.

Tony Docherty’s men prop up the cinch Premiership top six table with 41 points from 35 matches having scored 46 goals and let in 59 during the season so far.

Steven Naismith’s side have been confirmed in third position with 63 points from 35 games, scoring 46 goals and letting in 37.

The Tayside team have lost their last two fixtures, last weekend’s 3-1 home reverse to St Mirren backing onto their 2-1 home defeat to Celtic, while Hearts lost 3-0 at Parkhead to league pace-setting Celtic last weekend and drew 0-0 with Kilmarnock.

Naismith has repeatedly said he will not let his men take their foot off the pedal despite tying up third spot and Saturday’s game is not a dead rubber as Dundee still hope to play European football next season.

They are five points adrift of St Mirren who are fifth in the table but Docherty stressed that his men will give it everything in his remaining games.

The Jambos head coach may, however, give some of his B squad a taste of Premiership action by naming them on the bench.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Shankland picked up the PFA Scotland player of the year award at the weekend, the first Hearts striker to receive the prestige accolade.