Brazilian midfielder missed Sunday’s Premiership match at Aberdeen

Hearts have received scan results for Brazilian midfielder Eduardo Ageu, captain Lawrence Shankland and defender Stuart Findlay. All three players had injuries assessed by medical experts over the last few days and the Edinburgh club have now been given a clearer diagnosis of their respective problems.

Hearts sent Ageu, their record signing, for further investigation on Friday after he complained of a hamstring problem. Images showed he has a tear in the tendon. The 23-year-old is likely to be sidelined until around the turn of the year, although he is due to see a specialist for further consultation this evening to pinpoint an exact recovery time. Ageu’s tear is in a different area of the hamstring he originally injured back in August.

He is not expected to need surgery but will miss several weeks of football either way and will be given time to recover before getting back into action in the New Year. Ageu sat out Sunday’s Premiership match at Aberdeen as Hearts’ unbeaten league run ended in a 1-0 defeat. They remain top of the table and four points ahead of Celtic, who have a game in hand. Ageu, Shankland and Beni Baningime were all sidelined through injury at Pittodrie, while Craig Halkett was suspended.

Riccarton coaching staff are eager to see Ageu free of injury and playing regularly in maroon as soon as possible. He arrived in August in a £1.7m transfer deal from the Portuguese club Santa Clara, but persistent hamstring issues have restricted the player to just three appearances so far.

He damaged a hamstring on his Hearts debut at Livingston in August and ended up missing almost two months of football. He returned against Celtic on 26 October but then suffered another minor hamstring tweak. The latest issue is a source of much frustration for both player and coaching staff at Riccarton.

Good news followed for Shankland, however, who complained of a tight calf following a slip in training on Friday. His scans have shown no damage and he did some light work at Riccarton today. Provided he can train unhindered between now and the weekend, he could have a chance of returning for Hearts against Motherwell on Saturday.

Findlay is set to take an injection in his ankle after being substituted with discomfort in the calf/ankle area against Aberdeen. His scan was forwarded to a specialist who confirmed there is nothing sinister in the area needing urgent treatment. He is due to get an injection in the next few hours and, all being well, he could resume training on Friday and be available for the Motherwell match.

Hearts will proceed with caution over the coming days in the hope that both Shankland and Findlay might make their squad for Fir Park. Ageu and Baningime will take a few weeks longer and coaching staff are prepared to be without those two for the next few matches at least. Baningime has a chance of returning to action before Christmas if he continues to progress as expected after a hamstring strain.