Hearts have received a massive blow on the eve of Sunday’s crunch William Hill Premiership clash with champions, Celtic, at Tynecastle (kick-off 15.00).
Skipper Lawrence Shankland (pictured) has been ruled out for up to two months with a hamstring issue.
Confirmation came in statement on the club’s social media platform which said: “We can confirm that Lawrence Shankland will miss the next six-eight weeks with a hamstring strain.
“Wishing you a speedy recovery, skipper.”
The 30-year-old limped off in the later stages of Saturday’s Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup defeat by Falkirk and the Glasgow-born striker will also miss the Capital Derby with Hibs on February 10 and a trip to Rangers five days later. The Ibrox side are third in the table, level on points with second-placed Celtic.
The Men in Maroon will also be minus midfielder Cammy Devlin for a similar spell with an unspecified leg injury plus three other crocked players, Oisin McEntee, Stephen Kingsley and record signing, Ageu.
Influential Beni Baningime is also sidelined for Sunday but he is suffering a ban.
There was some good news at Tynecastle. A fee has been settled for Uganda international Rogers Mato who had agreed to come to Scotland under freedom of contract.
The 22-year-old moves from Macedonian side FK Vardar, who are in the First Football League, but he is unlikely to be in Scotland in time for Sunday’s game against Martin O’Neill’s men who are six points behind the Jambos.
