Exclusive:Finlay Pollock's Hearts talks, the club's approach and when he will be fit
Midfielder is nearing a return to fitness after almost a year out
The last 11 months have pushed Finlay Pollock’s mental resolve to the absolute limit while fighting to rebuild his career. A hamstring injury suffered last April playing on loan for Raith Rovers against Ayr United needed immediate surgery. Just as the midfielder resumed training, he suffered a setback in August. It has been an arduous time for a 21-year-old with the potential to establish himself as a first-team regular if he can overcome persistent injury troubles.
Pollock has been beset by different injuries in recent years, including a broken foot and patellar tendon issues before the hamstring tear. He has managed just eight senior Hearts appearances since a debut five years and four managers ago. This time, the hope is for a different outcome. Pollock should resume full training with the Riccarton first-team squad later this month. He is running freely, changing direction and doing ballwork, and the club’s approach is to reintroduce him gradually.
Head coach Derek McInnes has held talks with the player to encourage him during a long and challenging rehabilitation period. He is now ready to emerge at the other side feeling stronger than before. What a filip it would be for Hearts if they can utilise Pollock’s pace and drive from midfield next season. There is the slim possibility of a first-team return this term, but that is very much still to be decided. For now, coaching staff are taking great encouragement from seeing the youngster on the cusp of full training.
“Finlay is probably a couple weeks away from full training now. He is doing well,” McInnes told the Edinburgh News. “He's been good as gold. I love the fact he turns up to all the games, home and away, he's in the dressing room and he's a really popular boy. He just needs a break, he just needs a bit of luck. He feels he has come on leaps and bounds over the last few weeks with his speed work. He is one of those fast-switch players. He's got that real pace but he says he feels even better than before.
"We are all taking a bit of encouragement from how he is feeling. I think he feels that, this time round, he is coming back into a training system a bit more optimistic about the injury. Hopefully, that is the case. It's natural for him to be worried and have concerns because of the recurrence. Hopefully, by coming back in before the end of the season, it allows him to play a part between now and the end of the season. You never know. I'm sure that's what he's hanging on to. It would be great to have him added to the squad for the run-in, but it's just as important to get him that base of training before we hit pre-season again.”
McInnes added that he monitored Pollock during last season’s loan spell with Raith, where he played 25 times and scored six goals. He often played as a forward. “I liked his loan at Raith Rovers. I watched a lot of him and I liked how he played there. I'm looking forward to working with him. I like him as a player but I like him even more as a boy,” commented McInnes.