Hearts' Peter Haring has operation - but better news on John Souttar and Conor Washington

Hearts' Peter Haring is struggling to overcome injury. Pic: SNS

Hearts midfielder Peter Haring has undergone surgery on an adductor muscle and is expected to remain sidelined until next year. Defender John Souttar is also unlikely to play until 2020 but striker Conor Washington could be back in maroon before the winter shutdown.

The Edinburgh club sent Haring for an operation as persistent pain in the pelvic area has denied the Austrian a single appearance so far this season. He will recuperate between now and January.

Souttar has started running in water after ankle surgery, whilst Washington is back jogging following a torn hamstring. Austin MacPhee, Hearts' interim manager, explained that the three players are making gradual progress from their respective ailments.

"Peter has had a small operation - an adductor release - after the alternative approach to try and fix his problem wasn't deemed successful enough. He still had some pain so he had a small op," confirmed MacPhee.

"Washington is out jogging, which is a positive. He will now be building up to sprinting and playing, which is a very important period with a hamstring injury. Souttar is running in the aqua-trainer, so he is not fully weight-bearing yet but he is jogging.

"I would hope to see Conor before the January break. I think John and Peter will be after that."