Hearts star gets Covid test after sore throat as Robbie Neilson gives Christophe Berra injury and Harry Cochrane loan update

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson confirmed Andy Halliday and Stephen Kingsley will be involved against Raith Rovers on Tuesday evening.
Stephen Kingsley had a Covid-19 scare. Picture: SNSStephen Kingsley had a Covid-19 scare. Picture: SNS
Stephen Kingsley had a Covid-19 scare. Picture: SNS

He also revealed Christophe Berra is making good progress on his return from injury.

New signings Halliday and Kingsley were given their debuts in the 1-0 Betfred Cup win over Inverness CT at Tynecastle last week as second-half substitutes.

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The duo, however, missed the weekend's win over Cowdenbeath.

Neilson revealed there was a Covid-19 scare with Kingsely with the player suffering a sore throat.

"Andy's just had a tight thigh," he said. “He's been off for that long he's kicking the ball and it started to tighten up so we just took him out for the [Cowdenbeath] game.

“Kingsley had a sore throat so we had him tested to make sure and it came back negative so they are back in the squad.”

Berra boost

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Neilson has been pleased with the signing of Mihai Popescu, but any concerns about a lack of depth at centre-back should be dismissed with Berra on the mend, plus the ability of two others to drop into the position.

"It was important we got Mihai in,” Neilson said. “We had to quarantine him for a fortnight which was difficult. But Christophe's Berra's back out running again and Peter Haring's back which is great. He can slot back into the centre half role.

"One of the reasons we brought Kingsley is that he can cover at left centre half as well so we've got options, although those two are the main ones at the moment."

No loan for Cochrane

Meanwhile, there are currently no plans for Harry Cochrane to go out on loan.

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The midfielder was on the bench for the match against Cowdenbeath at the weekend but didn't get on.

"Not at the moment and we're looking at home being involved on Tuesday,” Neilson said. “It was a toss up between him and Scott McGill to start the game on Saturday.

"We just felt that with it being McGill's debut, it was a good game to put him into. He was playing against a League Two team who had a strong team out, he had support roundabout him to help him. it was a good opportunity to throw him in and I thought he did very well.”