Peter Haring sent to another specialist as Hearts wonder when he will return

Hearts midfielder Peter Haring is still sidelined and will consult a medical expert next week.

Hearts midfielder Peter Haring will visit another medical specialist next week, with manager Daniel Stendel admitting no-one knows why he is still in pain and unable to train.

Officials at the Edinburgh club are growing increasingly concerned about Haring’s prolonged recovery from an injury in the groin/pelvic area.

He has not played at all this season and was ordered by doctors in January to rest until discomfort subsided. However, the ongoing pain remains an issue Hearts cannot get to the bottom of.

The 26-year-old is to see a specialist next week in the hope of unearthing the root cause of a problem which has sidelined him since the Scottish Cup final in May last year.

He underwent double hernia surgery in December 2018 and managed to play 11 times during the second half of last season, but has not been available since.

Stendel told the Evening News: “Nobody can say: ‘This is the answer, this is the reason, this is the plan.’ Peter has done a lot of things, we tried a lot of things with him for him to come back really quick, but the reality is not like this.

“He is still feeling pain and he cannot train. We wonder when he can train in the next couple of weeks.

“The difficult thing with his injury is nobody can say: ‘This is the reason and when we do this, he can train tomorrow.’ It is hard for his head, it is hard for the team and for everyone but this is the situation.

“He has an appointment next week and maybe after this appointment we will know more from the doctor.”

Hearts are determined to give Haring as much time and support as he needs to recover. He is seen as an important part of the team even though he has yet to play under Stendel, who only took over as manager last December.

The Austrian’s contract at Tynecastle Park runs until summer 2022.