This could be a truly historic year for Heart of Midlothian as Derek McInnes could bring back his injured star player this month as the Scottish Premiership title race is the most intense in years.
Heartseal beat Hibs 1-0 in crucial Edinburgh derby
Hearts are under pressure to maintain their lead at the top of the table but produced a remarkable performance to maintain momentum with a valuable 1-0 win over cross-town rivals Hibs.
Substitute Thomas Magnusson’s thunderous strike in the 88th minute sparked jubilation at rain-soaked Tynecastle.
The Icelandic midfielder secured the vital three points with a superb left-footed strike from Harry Milne, leaving McInnes’ side temporarily six points clear of Rangers and nine points clear of defending champions Celtic.
18,766 supporters witnessed a tense and enthusiastic match played on a damp surface that limited quality throughout.
Tuesday’s win continued Hearts’ incredible momentum as they seek their first league win since 1960. This is Scottish football’s first title outside of Glasgow since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen achieved it in 1985.
Derek McInnes reveals why Hearts’ James Wilson was wrong to join Tottenham
The Hearts manager insists the young striker made a mistake.
McInnes’ side have lost just three of their 26 league games this season, showing remarkable resilience while continuing to produce results despite a loss of attacking fluency.
Tony Bloom’s nearly £10m investment last summer appears to have reshaped the entire philosophy of Tynecastle’s team, and the Brighton chief has so far delivered on the promise that Hearts can upset the apple car of Scottish stranglehold on Celtic and Rangers.
“I’m really excited to invest in Hertz,” Bloom exclaimed last June.
“I am a strong believer in the club’s ability to disrupt the patterns of dominance in Scottish football that have existed for far too long.
“This great club has a bright future and I look forward to watching it unfold in the coming months and years.”
Bloom’s Brighton style of data-driven recruiting has delivered extraordinary value, with the entire squad raised for just £5.4m, a fraction of Rangers’ £52.3m and Celtic’s £86.8m.
McInnes deserves huge credit for the tactical adjustments that led to the important win against Hibs while working with an injury-hit squad missing star players such as Cammy Devlin and Scotland international striker Lawrence Shankland.
Edinburgh Evening News correspondent Barry Anderson reports that Shankland is aiming to return as early as late March against Dundee, so it could be some time before we see the latter return.
The Hearts captain, who has scored 15 of his 26 goals in all competitions this term, is a truly painful mistake for Jam Tarts, but McInnes has worked miracles to make the system work without a talisman.
Devlin is similarly notable for his absence, but there is good news for Anderson when it comes to the Australian’s imminent return.
Cammy Devlin aims to return from injury at Hearts in February
The same reporter claims in an article in the Edinburgh Evening News that Devlin is aiming to return for the game against Aberdeen on February 28th.
Hearts are still cautious with the 27-year-old and could delay his return until the game against Kilmarnock on March 14, but either way Devlin’s arrival will ultimately be a big boost for McInnes.
The midfielder is a mainstay for Hearts, starting every game in the Scottish Premiership before suffering an ankle problem, and is an essential cog in McInnes’ team.
The four-cap Australian international is out of contract this summer and could leave for free, so Tynecastle’s leaders will be desperate to hold onto him by negotiating a contract extension.
Devlin claimed in December that he was not close to signing a new contract, but perhaps Hearts can use this time off the field to restart talks.
The former Wellington Phoenix ace has been lavished with praise for his form this season, with former Celtic star Scott Brown also praising his arrogance and quality of the ball.
“I’m really enjoying Devlin at the moment,” Brown told Sky Sports.
“He’s a little bit arrogant. He’s playing with confidence now. He’s playing with his head up. He looks like a top, top quality player.”
“He reminds me of a young Callum McGregor. He gets on the ball and drives the team forward. Everyone at Hearts is watching him. We expect him to go on the ball, go to tackles, set the tone early in the game. And that’s what he’s doing now.”
Hearts face Rangers in another pivotal six-pointer this weekend, with more eyes on the Premiership title race than ever before.
Derek McInnes reveals why Hearts’ James Wilson was wrong to join Tottenham
The Hearts manager insists the young striker made a mistake.
