Derek McInnes admitted that he has “one or two” issues going on ahead of Sunday’s William Hill Premiership clash with champions, Celtic, and it will be Friday before he has an idea what his team will be.
However, the January transfer window is still open allowing the club to act and he told fans: “We are actively trying to alleviate some of the concerns we have.”
With that in mind, McInnes said they were trying to get “one or two” new players in, but that will not 28-year-old, Senegalese midfielder Laurent Mendy.
The Tynecastle team have had a bid for the Forest Green Rovers skipper turned down by the National League club. He was a possible option for crocked Cammy Devlin who is sidelined for up to eight weeks with an inspecified leg injury.
Or course, the Jambos are also missing midfielder Beni Baningime through suspension and Scotland international striker, Lawrence Shankland
McInnes also has a “wee doubt” about midfieder Tomas Magnusson, but he said that Ageu and Oisin McEntee will, hopefully, be back on the training ground on Friday.
The former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock boss stressed that the transfer window was still open and if he can get fresh blood in for Sunday then that is positive. If they can’t, Hearts still have time in the window left and he naturally wants the club to be as strong as it possibly be before the transfer window shuts.
And he said: “We still have a lot going for us in the squad. It is not all doom and gloom, and it need to stress that. Injuries are part and parcel of it, losing key players are part and parcel of it and I don’t want anybody of a Hearts persuasion to lose any hope or optimism.”
TRAINING TALK: Hearts have concerns over midfielder Tomas Magnusson . Picture Nigel Duncan
