Hearts offer injury update on striker Liam Boyce ahead of top-of-the-table Dunfermline match

Liam Boyce should be fit for Hearts’ vital Championship match with Dunfermline at Tynecastle Park.

Hearts striker Liam Boyce is on the way back from injury.

The Northern Ireland internationalist is nursing a calf complaint but is expected to be available for Tuesday night’s top-of-the-table meeting.

Hearts coaching staff chose not to risk him at Dundee last weekend for fear of further aggravating the injury. Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie against Camelon or Brora Rangers was then postponed, giving Boyce extra recuperation time.

He hobbled off after 21 minutes against Arbroath on December 29 but is now poised to return.

“Boycie should be fine,” said manager Robbie Neilson. “He potentially could have been ready for the game against Dundee.

“Because it was his calf and he’d had problems before, we were just a bit worried about putting him in and then he pulls the calf.

“If that happens you’re out for six to eight weeks. We thought it would better for him to miss the Dundee game and then get him ready to come back after that.”

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