Hearts boss Daniel Stendel reveals squad’s fitness plans ahead of St Mirren clash - including one key star who isn't 100 percent fit

Daniel Stendel has admitted the fitness of some key players needs managed ahead of Hearts' clash with St Mirren. Picture: SNS

Hearts boss Daniel Stendel has admitted the fitness of some players requires careful handling ahead of the relegation clash with 10th-place St Mirren.

The Gorgie side travel to Paisley on Friday night for the Ladbrokes Premiership encounter following the 2-2 draw with Hamilton at Tynecastle. Three points separate the bottom three.

Hearts have played eight games in all competitions since returning from the winter break and have had to contend with injury problems, with Sean Clare, Michael Smith and Toby Sibbick all suffering.

Stendel has revealed that the number of fixtures has been hard on some individuals.

“We need to look after the fitness of some players that played a lot of games,” he said. “I know every team played a lot of games in the last three weeks.

“Some players have some problems but they want to help, they want to play and we need to recover the players so they are fit to play on Friday.

“We need to look to what we can do to help the players so they can handle the pressure and mental things in the head to say ‘I can play, I am ready to play, I am ready to take the fight and win this fight’.”

Liam Boyce is one of the players being monitored, with Stendel admitting the striker is not 100 percent fit.

The £150,000 January signing from Burton Albion made his debut against Rangers having not trained with the team and even asked to come off before scoring the winner in that match.

The Northern Irishman has played every minute so far for Hearts.

“He had a great start two weeks ago against Rangers but he has some problems,” admitted Stendel. “He has tried to play, he wants to help the team and he is a player who can help the team as he showed in the last games.

“We need his goals, we need him as a personality on the pitch to get the experience, the confidence for other players. But it is not easy when you have the feeling you are not 100 percent fit.”