Exclusive:Hearts update on Harry Milne, Cammy Devlin, Craig Gordon and Adam Forrester ahead of Rangers game
The Ibrox side visit Tynecastle on Monday
Derek McInnes remains hopeful of having Harry Milne and Cammy Devlin available for Hearts’ critical Premiership match against Rangers on Monday. The Tynecastle manager knows the magnitude of the fixture as he strives to take his club one step nearer the league title. Having either or both of Milne and Devlin back from injury would be a significant boost.
Milne has been running and is making progress following a calf/ankle problem which has sidelined him since Hearts’ match at Kilmarnock on 14 March. The left-back will work over the next few days to improve his fitness and hopes to take part in enough training sessions to declare himself available to face Rangers.
Devlin is doubtful due to a muscle strain and is continuing to be assessed by Riccarton medical staff. He is rated touch-and-go for Monday’s match at this stage. McInnes stressed to the Edinburgh News that feels both players do have a chance of being involved. “We are hoping so,” he said today. “Both Harry and Cammy are progressing well so we just need to wait and see. Both boys are going the right way so we will see how the next few days play out.”
Hearts have recalled Adam Forrester from St Johnstone as part of the clubs’ co-operation loan agreement. The defender celebrated winning the Championship title in Perth last week and is now back with his parent club to give McInnes another option in the right-back department. St Johnstone have one league game left, which is away to Ayr United this Friday. “We just feel we want to counter every eventuality with injuries and suspensions over the next few games. We don’t want Adam not training or being available to us when he could be,” explained McInnes.
“He is our player and it’s good experience for him to come back into the squad. He took the good from being part of a successful title-winning team at St Johnstone. Bringing Adam back just makes sense. You want him to be part of it, but he could also play his part because you just don’t know what’s round the corner in terms of injuries and suspensions.”
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is also edging closer to a first-team return after a shoulder problem. “He hasn’t done full training yet but he has been working with the goalkeepers and the goalie coach, Paul Gallacher,” said McInnes. “He did a couple of days back-to-back, he had a gym day today, and he is due to train again Friday and Saturday. If he can do that with the goalkeepers then we can see where he is for full training. We are trying to increase his time doing the goalkeeper training first.”
McInnes is one of three candidates for PFA Scotland’s Manager of the Year award, which will be announced this Sunday in Glasgow. He is up against Falkirk manager John McGlynn and the Stenhousemuir coach Gary Naysmith. McInnes’ nomination follows the Player of the Year contenders, two of which are Hearts strikers Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga. The manager is delighted with the recognition of his club’s strong season.
“Any nomination is nice but it also illustrates what the team is doing,” stated McInnes. “Lawrence and Claudio got their individual nominations because they are a big part of a squad that is working well together. Their performances have been part of that. It’s the same for any Manager of the Month or Manager of the Year award. You are a cog in a big wheel. There are a lot of people I depend on to do my job, so it’s a team effort.”