Hearts have been given two injury benefits ahead of their Scottish Premiership clash with Aberdeen in 10 days, with Derek McInnes’ side looking to beat Celtic and Rangers to claim their first Jambos title since 1960.
Edinburgh’s side will be keeping a close eye on developments going into this weekend’s game against Falkirk, but the news from Riccarton this week couldn’t have come at a better time.
Although McInnes’ side remain top of the table, the past month has been a testing one off the pitch, with a string of serious injuries leaving Tynecastle’s side stretched thin.
The title race is still on and with Celtic and Rangers both within reach, every point and every player counts.
McInnes has been forced to shuffle his deck a number of times in recent weeks without a key man in the engine room and with no obvious equivalent waiting in the wings.
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The gap at the top has narrowed.
The head coach has publicly acknowledged that the team is lacking in certain areas, putting considerable pressure on the remaining squad. But there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Both key players are now inching closer to a return, with the home game against Aberdeen on February 28 emerging as a real target for both.
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One of the two, Cammy Devlin, has been out since mid-January after sustaining an ankle injury in a collision in the win over St Mirren.
It was a cruel blow for a player who had been an outstanding performer not just for Hearts, but perhaps for the entire division.
His absence was felt very keenly. McInnes himself has spoken at length about the void left, and it was evident in certain performances in the intervening weeks.
The player is said to be working hard to prepare for Aberdeen, but medical staff at Riccarton are taking a cautious approach.
The second man in question suffered a nerve-related shoulder problem just 12 minutes into last weekend’s 4-2 loss to Rangers, and initial concerns suggested the worst.
Those concerns were then allayed when McInnes confirmed at a press conference outside Falkirk that Oisin McEntee could return alongside Devlin for the game against Aberdeen.
Australian powerhouse Devlin, who has been a mainstay in this team all season, and Irishman McEntee, who provides vital cover for McInnes and quality across the midfield and backline, could both be welcome returns for another important draw.
This was all confirmed by manager MacInnes, and both Rangers and Celtic became concerned as the Jam Tarts gradually gained a full-strength squad again.
It would be a huge improvement if both could be brought back in time for the Aberdeen game.
Hearts are still two points clear of the summit, but with difficult fixtures ahead and Celtic having a game in hand, they are only now beginning to rebuild the depth they need to stay in this title race.
If Devlin and McEntee can both return healthy and crisp games, McInnes will have even more work to do during what is expected to be a decisive match.
Indeed, the Aberdeen game suddenly became a lot more interesting.
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The battle for the title intensifies…
