Josh Ginnelly and Elliott Frear injury latest as Hearts prepare for Morton 5-4-1

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson is encouraged by injury progress being made by wingers Josh Ginnelly and Elliott Frear.

Josh Ginnelly and Elliott Frear are working their way back from injuries at Hearts.

Ginnelly could return on Saturday at Morton after six weeks out with a thigh muscle problem. Frear is back sprinting having missed the last two matches with a hamstring complaint and has an outside chance of featuring in Greenock.

“Elliott is back running. He was sprinting yesterday and everything was fine so we will try him again and then see how he is for Saturday,” Neilson told the Evening News.

“He is similar to Ginnelly. We are desperate to get these boys back but when it’s muscle injuries on players who are explosive and fast-paced, you have to be careful about bringing them back too early.

“Hopefully we will have Ginnelly for the bench on Saturday. I’m still pushing to try and get him on it. Maybe Frear as well, but with him it will more than likely be the following week.”

Neilson expects David Hopkin’s Morton side to line up in a 5-4-1 formation in an effort to frustrate and stifle Hearts. “They are very strong and robust,” he explained.

“They sit in deep and make it difficult for you to break them down. It’s up to the opposition to go and win the game because they won’t open up much.

“I watched Morton’s game against Arbroath the other week. They go 5-4-1 and it’s up to the other team to get through them. Although they aren’t scoring a lot of goals, they aren’t conceding many either.

“We expect it to be a very stuffy game and a tough nut to crack but, if we show the quality we can show, then we can break them down.”

Hearts travel to Cappielow Park sitting second in the Championship, one point behind leaders Dunfermline. The Fife derby between Dunfermline and third-placed Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park gives the Edinburgh club a chance to return to first place.

“I know Dunfermline play Raith on Saturday but we just need to make sure we win games,” said Neilson. “If we continue to win matches at the rate we have done in the league, then we will be fine. We will be where we want to be.”

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