Hearts prepare quietly for Premiership climax

Training at Riccarton this week has been vital to Hearts' preparations for the final nine games of a very eventful season. Some players are missing due to international duty but Ian Cathro and his coaching staff still have the bulk of the first-team squad to work with.

Ian Cathro will lead his Hearts team back into action against Celtic at Tynecastle on Sunday week

Veteran centre-back Aaron Hughes has recovered from the calf injury which precluded him from his club’s last four matches. Ironically, he is one of the absentees having been given permission to join the Northern Ireland squad for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Norway.

Arnaud Djoum is also away with Cameroon, Andraz Struna is preparing to face Scotland with Slovenia, Alex Tziolis is with Greece, Faycal Rherras is in the Morocco squad and Liam Smith is with Scotland Under-21s. Goalkeeper Jack Hamilton received a late call-up to the Scotland squad yesterday following the withdrawal through injury of David Marshall. Hearts expect most of the above to be back in place by the middle of next week.

“A couple of things have slowed us down this week,” explained Cathro. “Krystian [Nowak] and Lennard [Sowah] are managing a couple of knocks but, given it’s this week, we expect both of them to be clear for full training next week. We don’t have any other concerns outside that.

“Aaron had been back training with us for a couple of days before the Aberdeen game on Saturday. Sometimes in that situation you jump straight in. Maybe he could’ve come through the game, maybe he couldn’t. It’s sometimes a decision about protecting the player.

“Aaron is going to be an important player for us. The way we’ve managed the last stage of his recovery guarantees him a little bit of time to do more training. I think he’ll be completely fine and completely ready for next week.”

Hearts are close to agreeing a one-year contract with Hughes, as revealed in yesterday’s Evening News. His leadership is considered crucial.

“Very much so, his influence will be vital in the majority of situations we’ll find ourselves in now,” added Cathro. “Aaron brings a calmness to people, helps things stay clear and supports people. He’s an important player to constantly have around everyone. He’s had a really positive impact.”

The rest of the campaign sees Hearts playing catch-up from a position of fifth in the Ladbrokes Premiership. They hope to claim a Europa League qualifying place come May and there fore Cathro needs his most experienced men available.

That doesn’t mean there is no role for younger members of the squad. Teenage striker Rory Currie recently signed a long-term contract to commit his future to Hearts until summer 2020. He continues to impress his superiors.

“Rory is a young player who, technically, is very comfortable in a lot of situations in games. He stays calm, he doesn’t get too stressed about things. That’s probably been the biggest thing which has helped him. He feels comfortable enough on the park to let some of this quality come out,” said Cathro.

Currie only arrived at Riccarton last summer after being released by Rangers. His impact has seen him elevated from the under-20 squad into the senior group, where he is more than holding his own.

“He’s a young boy who plays with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. He is a good quality finisher, which will develop and improve through time. He’s definitely someone we’re excited to work with and we’ll support him to help him grow as a footballer over the coming months and years.”

Even Cathro admits that the 19-year-old has made an impression greater than anyone expected in his seven senior appearances to date.

“I would say that’s pretty fair. The players who show me the things I want in the team will go in the team. For me, it’s that simple.”