Hearts loanee Toby Sibbick nearing a return from illness

Midfielder has been missed due to glandular fever

Toby Sibbick is close to resuming full training with Hearts

Toby Sibbick is close to resuming full training with Hearts after glandular fever. However, Sunday’s Premiership trip to Livingston is likely to come too soon for him.

The on-loan Barnsley midfielder has been training separately from the squad at Riccarton having taken ill five weeks ago. He is now hoping to rejoin the group in the next few days.

Manager Daniel Stendel does not expect to have Sibbick available for the latest installment of Hearts’ relegation battle in West Lothian this weekend.

There is a chance he could be back to face Ross County on Saturday week, depending how his body responds.

“Toby has not trained with the team yet,” Stendel confirmed to the Evening News. “Maybe that will change before the weekend but he has not trained with the team for many weeks now. I think he is not really a big option for Sunday.”