Hearts hold Harry Milne injury hope for Falkirk game as Craig Gordon takes step forward with World Cup looming

Derek McInnes has provided a positive injury update on Harry Milne and Craig Gordon ahead of a defining week for Hearts - as the head coach paid tribute to injured pair Craig Halkett and on-loan Birmingham City midfielder Marc Leonard.

Hearts can clinch Premiership glory for the first time since 1960 at Tynecastle against Falkirk on Wednesday if the Steelmen defeat second-placed Celtic, who are currently a point away.

One player who could be back in time for Falkirk is left-back Milne. The marauding star has been key for McInnes when fit across a variety of positions but has been unable to feature in post-split games against Hibs, Rangers and Motherwell, last playing against Kilmarnock on March 14th. The Hearts manager is hopeful of some involvement midweek before a final day showdown at Parkhead against Celtic.

Will Harry Milne feature for Hearts again this season?

“Lots of running,” McInnes told the Evening News of how much training Milne has done. “He's just not really been doing the football work with the team. But he's full training tomorrow (Sunday). He'll train again Monday, he'll do a bit Tuesday, and then hopefully be ready for Wednesday.”

As part of a wider injury update, McInnes paid tribute to Birmingham City loanee Leonard and Halkett, following their season-ending Achilles injuries. He also discussed goalkeeper Craig Gordon’s injury comeback ahead of the final week of this season and World Cup campaign with Scotland, having been spotted doing the warm-up with the Jambos goalkeepers at Fir Park. The 43-year-old was last on the bench against Rangers at Ibrox on February 15th.

“It's not easy in the dressing room when you see two boys distraught and in crutches,” explained McInnes. “We're all really close. The boys are so close to each other, two very important lads and their seasons are over. It's just another reason, if we didn't have enough reasons, to go and try and get this done now. Both lads are going to have to watch and support the team from the sidelines. Both lads have been outstanding.

Craig Gordon injury latest ahead of World Cup

“Marc comes in in January and really helps alleviate a really difficult situation with Cammy and Beni Baningime’s injuries and come in as if he's been here all his days. He's been outstanding and Halkett’s has been a rock for us at the back. We've got good players. Frankie Kent comes on and shows his experience and his quality in that type of game.

“Although we can feel hard done with the amount of injuries we've got, and you see how many we've got there behind the dugout watching the game, we've also got to be grateful for who is still available for us. Our young goalie Jack Lyons has picked up a hamstring injury. So we needed that third goalkeeper. Craig has done a lot of work with the goalkeepers.

“He's not fully trained with us yet but he intends to train. I think Craig has timed it well for him. Obviously we’ve got these two games and hopefully he has a good week's work with us. It's great to have his presence in the dressing room and the like. I think for him, he's timed us right for the World Cup as well. It's great to have him back. If he can be available for the last couple of games, even better.”

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