Former Hearts and Hibs aces add to deepening injury woes at Premiership rival as they're ruled out until 2026
The former Hearts and Hibs men have joined forces elsewhere in the Premiership.
A pair of former Hearts and Hibs players have been ruled out until 2026 as a Premiership rival sees their injury count increase.
Kilmarnock are already dealing to long-term blows to Max Stryjek, Matty Kennedy and Djenairo Daniels while fitness and illness concerns surrounded Brad Lyons plus David Watson prior to last week’s loss at home to Motherwell. Their goalkeeping woes have forced an emergency loan from Celtic for keeper Tobi Oluwayemi, and more issues have emerged.
On a six-game losing streak ahead of facing Dundee United on Saturday, former Hearts star Jamie Brandon and ex-Hibs ace Kyle Magennis are out until 2026. Magennis has been dogged by injury and has had knee surgery while Brandon has dealt with ankle and groin issues. It’s now been confirmed by boss Stuart Kettlewell that both won’t feature for the rest of the calendar year.
What Hearts and Hibs stars are injured at rival?
Kettlewell said on injuries: “No, there’s no update other than the fact that they’re long-term injuries and that we don’t expect anybody fresh to be back involved in the group. There’ll no be a new option from last weekend.
“Kyle and Jamie and Max these types of guys, you’re not going to see them again until the new year. Kyle’s had an operation in his knee, so he’s a bit of a clean-out in his knee. He had a hamstring problem, he had a bit of an issue with his knee, so he’s undergone surgery. Like I say, you’ll not see him until the new year.”
On the game, Kettlewell added: “I don’t doubt the players for a second. They have 100% of my back and they have my confidence, and I feel that that’s reciprocated as well. It’s important to say that. But in terms of if we didn’t have that personality and we didn’t have that togetherness, then I don’t think you’d see the reactions that we’ve had.
Stuart Kettlewell on Kilmarnock vs Dundee United
“Now, I don’t want to be in a position where we’re behind in a game of football and we’re having to draw on that and call on it. We want to see that from the beginning of a game, without question. But I think what everybody’s seen is, no matter what the situation has been, we’ve been a couple of goals down in games and we’ve seen a response.
“We’ve been one goal down against Aberdeen, completely dominated the second half of football with chances, possession and everything else. So, I think everybody can see that that’s been there. And as I say, the second half reaction from them has not been an awful lot in the first half.
“I don’t think there were enough situations for Motherwell to justify being a couple of goals up at the weekend, but they were. But we’ve definitely seen a reaction from the players and I think that justifies my comments. I feel that the players are very much together and they’re doing everything they possibly can at this minute in time to try and get a result.”