Hearts loan round-up: Colin Doyle big winner with Kilmarnock as four more rejoin league action

Colin Doyle was the most successful of Hearts’ loan exports in a weekend which saw more farmed out fringe players benefit from game time.
League One returned after a two month break because of lockdown restrictions.  Harry Cochrane (right) was in action for Montrose against Charlie Telfer and Falkirk. Picture: Michael Gillen.League One returned after a two month break because of lockdown restrictions.  Harry Cochrane (right) was in action for Montrose against Charlie Telfer and Falkirk. Picture: Michael Gillen.
League One returned after a two month break because of lockdown restrictions. Harry Cochrane (right) was in action for Montrose against Charlie Telfer and Falkirk. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The resumption of SPFL Leagues One and Two allowed several more players to pick up valuable minutes than those already out at Premiership and Championship clubs.

Goalkeeper Doyle, on loan at Premiership strugglers Kilmarnock, helped Tommy Wright’s relegation threatened side win 4-1 against Motherwell – and the goalkeeper kept out his fellow Jambos team-mate Jordan Roberts in the process.

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It’s a key win for Killie in their fight from the drop but they could yet be Hearts’ replacements in the second tier – and Roberts’ Motherwell side are not quite out of it either. The forward was cautioned during the Ayrshire side’s 4-1 win.

Colin Doyle in action for Kilmarnock during a Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Motherwell at Rugby Park (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)Colin Doyle in action for Kilmarnock during a Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Motherwell at Rugby Park (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)
Colin Doyle in action for Kilmarnock during a Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Motherwell at Rugby Park (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

Arbroath hosting Robbie Neilson’s side on Saturday meant Lewis Moore was unable to add more time to his loan spell against his parent club, under the terms of his loan deal, but fellow Championship loanee Craig Wighton did play 90 minutes for Dunfermline during their 1-0 defeat at East End Park to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and was booked in the process.

Recently, the loan reports would end there but with the return of lower league SPFL football this weekend more Jambos’ youngsters were in action – and glad to be so.

Cammy Logan started Cove Rangers’ 1-1 draw at Partick Thistle at right-back, before being replaced by his fellow Hearts export Connor Smith in the second half at Firhill. The draw keeps ex-Jambo Paul Hartley’s side second in League One and two points off leaders Falkirk, who won 2-0 against Harry Cochrane and Montrose.

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In League Two Chris Hamilton was a late substitute on the shore up the Stirling Albion defence during a 1-0 win over bottom side Brechin City.

And goalkeeper Harry Stone, a late mover to Albion Rovers last week, earned him 90 minutes against Stenhousemuir who were led by newly appointed captain, and former Hearts youth player Callum Tapping. However the highly-rated goalkeeper was on the wrong end of a 2-0 defeat for the Coatbridge side on his third senior start.

In England, Olly Lee registered 20 minutes as a second half substitute during Gillingham's 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers in skybet League One.

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