Robbie Neilson provides injury update on three Hearts first-team stars missing since October

Hearts forward Stephen Humphrys is close to a return to action having been sidelined since late October with an ankle injury.

The on-loan Wigan Athletic star was forced off shortly before the break in Hearts’ 4-3 defeat to Celtic at Tynecastle. The club initially hoped to have him return within a couple of weeks but he failed to find his fitness prior to the winter break, while he wasn’t even ready to play in either of Hearts’ friendlies over in Malaga.

However, manager Robbie Neilson has revealed the player should be in action if they’re able to organise a bounce game on Saturday as they look to improve fitness levels ahead of the cinch Premiership return next weekend.

“Humphs is back in training,” said Neilson. “We’re trying to get a game on Saturday, but it’s difficult to get one because there’s not many teams available. We might play an in-house game and I’m hoping Stephen would be back for that.”

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson is still dealing with some injury worries around his squad. Picture: SNS

A little bit behind Humphrys is Peter Haring. The Austrian has been missing since sustaining a concussion in the 2-0 defeat to Aberdeen earlier in October. He is also back in training but is still suffering the after-effects of the head knock.

“Peter still has concussion, he comes back for a couple of days and he doesn’t feel great, so it’s just one of those things,” said his head coach.

“He has seen the specialists and they are happy with everything, we just need to make sure it’s not getting worse, which it’s not, it’s just still lingering a little bit.

“We just need to be careful. He has trained with us a few days and came out, so we’ll see.”

Also missing from the first-team in the last couple of months has been winger Gary Mackay-Steven. He last featured in the 3-0 home defeat to Fiorentina after injuring his foot and isn’t expected to return just yet.

“Gary is still struggling with his foot, that’s why he didn’t come out with us to Spain,” said Neilson.

“He had a scan a couple of days ago and we are waiting on the results of that, it might be a shorter time or a longer time.”

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