Irish-born defender Oisin McEntee will miss the next “two or three weeks” with a groin issue, according to Hearts’ head coach, Derek McInnes.
Aussie midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof and Brazil-born Ageu are training but will not feature as Hearts travel to Dundee on Sunday (kick-off 14.00) in the William Hill Premiership.
McInnes’ men go in against an in-form, ninth-placed side who have won their last three (1-0 at Falkirk, 2-1 over Kilmarnock) and celebrated after defeating Dundee United 1-0 at Tannadice in their last outing in the Tayside derby.
The Jambos hold a three-point lead at the summit of the 12-strong division over resurgent Rangers, the Capital combine also have a game in hand and a superior goal difference, and McInnes said: “We’re exactly where we want to be.”
And Hearts are “comfortable”, he said, leading the chase for the title.
On possible transfer business, McInnes said that the bulk of the work had been done but he added: “We’ve still got a few weeks, but I feel as though we’re in a decent place with the squad.”
He also suggested that the Jambos have the “best striker in the league” in Lawrence Shankland (pictured) but they could add support players to help their campaign.
Meanwhile, there has been interest from English clubs – not named – in Scotland international goalkeeper, Zander Clark, as Graeme Jones, the club’s sporting director, has received “a couple of calls” have come in, but McInnes added: “It was no more than that.”
