Robbie Neilson will likely have selection headaches for the remainder of the season. Picture: SNSRobbie Neilson will likely have selection headaches for the remainder of the season. Picture: SNS
Robbie Neilson will likely have selection headaches for the remainder of the season. Picture: SNS

Is this Robbie Neilson's best Hearts XI after Gary Mackay-Steven signing - and could it face Raith Rovers?

Last weekend Robbie Neilson surprised all Hearts fans with his team selection for the Scottish Championship clash with Alloa Athletic.

The usual responses rained down on the club’s staff who man the social media channels. A ‘Delete before someone sees this’ and a ‘good one, Hearts. Now post the real XI’ there. There were no issues come the full-time whistle with the Tynecastle side running out 3-1 winners at the Indodrill Stadium to increase their lead at the top of the league to seven points.

Fans were treated to the return of Josh Ginnelly off the bench as well as the debut of Gary Mackay-Steven. Liam Boyce also emerged for a fearsome front three.

Hearts are set for a busy few months with 16 league fixtures still to play between now and the end of the campaign, and then there is the Scottish Cup if that is ever played following the postponement of all football below the Championship.

Neilson looks like having close to a full-strength squad to pick from. John Souttar is scheduled to return for next season and Jamie Brandon will also miss the rest of the campaign after rupturing a cruciate knee ligament. As for Loic Damour, the Frenchman is available for a transfer.

With Olly Lee’s departure the manager is looking to add a midfielder as well as another striker which should give him a formidable squad and plenty of selection headaches. Craig Wighton was left out of the squad for the Alloa game because of the options available.

So, is this Neilson’s best XI going forward?

Hearts are set for a busy few months with 16 league fixtures still to play between now and the end of the campaign, and then there is the Scottish Cup if that is ever played following the postponement of all football below the Championship.