Hearts take action to pinpoint Loic Damour's injury and hope he does not need surgery

Hearts have sent French midfielder Loic Damour for a scan in an effort to diagnose a troublesome ankle injury.

Hearts midfielder Loic Damour has yet to play under Robbie Neilson due to injury.

The problem has prevented Damour making a single appearance for the Edinburgh club this season and there is still no indication of when he will return.

He was sidelined during pre-season with what seemed a minor problem but rest and rehabilitation have failed to cure it. The 29-year-old resumed training briefly at Riccarton before discomfort in the ankle curtailed him again.

“He came back and trained with us for a couple of days and wasn’t right, so we’ve sent him to have his ankle scanned. He just can’t get over this niggle that he’s got,” Hearts manager Robbie Neilson explained to the Evening News.

"We were hoping it would just settle down itself. Loic did a bit of rehab work then came back in and trained for a few days but it just wasn’t quite right.

"We are trying to get to the bottom of it. Hopefully he doesn’t need an operation. We are hoping maybe just an injection, but we will see what the scan shows.”

Damour’s fellow midfielder Olly Lee was substituted with an ankle knock during last night’s 3-2 Betfred Cup win at East Fife.

“He’s alright, he just twisted his ankle,” added Neilson. “He did it midway through the first half, then at half-time he came off and it stiffened up a wee bit.

“There wasn’t any point in taking any risks at this stage. We’re sitting in a good position and we have a massive game a week on Friday [at Dunfermline in the league].”

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