Hearts hope Demetri Mitchell will return before season's end

Demetri Mitchell suffered a knee injury last month

He was ruled out for around eight weeks with the injury at the start of March, casting doubt over whether he would wear a maroon shirt again before his loan ends next month.

Hearts manager Craig Levein is encouraged by the player’s progress after consultations with staff at Old Trafford. Mitchell will remain in England to finish rehabilitation but might be ready to play for the Edinburgh club towards the end of the Premiership’s top-six finale.

“He’s getting on well since he’s been back running. We’re hoping he might manage a couple of games before the end of the season,” reported Levein. “We hoped he would be able to play for us again but we weren’t sure, and we still aren’t certain. We’ll have to wait and see.

“The intention is to get him back up and get him involved before the season finishes. He is doing all his rehab down at Manchester United. In a situation like this, that’s what normally happens. The player goes back to his parent club for treatment. We’re keen on getting him back up here.”

Mitchell quickly established himself as an important member of Levein’s team after signing his loan agreement in January. He provided a short-term solution to Hearts’ perennial left-back problem and the injury came just as the 21-year-old was hitting top form.

“Aaron Hughes has done well at left-back and Marcus Godinho did well at left wing-back on Saturday against Aberdeen, so we’re muddling on,” added Levein.

“It seems like that’s been the case in that position for quite a while, so hopefully Demetri can come back and give the team a bit more balance.”