Hearts lose three players but key man could return as Robbie Neilson demands another win at East Fife

Hearts will make several key decisions while reorganising their team for Tuesday night’s Betfred Cup tie at East Fife.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, right-back Michael Smith and striker Liam Boyce are all unavailable due to international duty with Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Winger Jamie Walker is in contention to return following a calf complaint but fellow wide player Jordan Roberts is unlikely to be fit. Josh Ginnelly will not be risked although Elliott Frear could start.

Despite the selection issues, manager Robbie Neilson is demanding an eighth successive victory after Saturday’s 2-1 league win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson has decisions to make before facing East Fife.

"We’ve got three away on international duty, we’ve got a few boys carrying knocks, and on Saturday we had no wingers fully fit. Frear came on near the end and he will be available for the East Fife game,” Neilson told the Evening News.

"We need to find a way to win like we did at the weekend. We started the season with out-and-out pace in wide areas, then on Saturday we had to be more compact because we didn’t have that.

"It’s going to be like that this season. There are going to be tough days but, if you want to win a league, you have to find different ways of winning.

"We’ve managed to get nine points out of nine in the Betfred but we want 12 out of 12. We have now won seven games on the bounce in all competitions and we want to make sure we continue that.

"We will be going with a strong team but we will make one or two changes.

"We need to have a look at Walker. Hopefully he will be available. Our decision will be whether we take a risk on him. We will see how Frear is in training and then make a decision.”

Second-choice goalkeeper Ross Stewart is the favourite to deputise for Gordon. Jamie Brandon stepped in for Smith at right-back last month.

"Whether those two will come in, I don’t know. We will see who is fit and utilise the squad as much as we can,” said Neilson.

Craig Wighton is expected to lead the forward line with Boyce missing.

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