Inverness winger Jake Mulraney training with Hearts

Inverness Caledonian Thistle winger Jake Mulraney has been training with Hearts as manager Craig Levein looks to sign a wide player in the January transfer window.

Inverness winger Jake Mulraney tries to get past John Rankin in last weekends clash with Queen of the South

The Highland club gave the 21-year-old permission to train at Riccarton last week but Levein remained coy when asked if he would take his interest further.

Born in Dublin, Mulraney signed a two-year contract with Inverness in June 2016 after leaving Queens Park Rangers. He was recommended to Hearts by the Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson and is available to sign for a nominal fee in January.

“He has been in training with us this week and we had a look at him. We’ll see,” said Levein, who was reluctant to elaborate on the situation. Hearts face Motherwell in the Premiership this afternoon with doubts over the fitness of key players Jamie Walker, Arnaud Djoum and Aaron Hughes.

Winger Walker’s hamstring is tight, midfielder Djoum has fluid in his knee and veteran defender Hughes is still troubled by a persistent calf problem.

“Arnaud, I don’t know. If he doesn’t play today then we’ll aim for Tuesday [against Dundee],” said Levein. “He got tackled in the first minute of the match last week and he has clumped bruising on his knee that is taking a while to go away.

“He is not in pain as such but it is restricting him a bit. I’m hopeful he’ll play.

“Walker hasn’t trained as his hamstring has been a bit tight. He had a hamstring problem a while ago but it’s not the same thing. He’s hopeful. Aaron’s calf is tight again, that’s just an ongoing problem.”

Levein admitted 38-year-old Hughes’ calf will need managed throughout the rest of the campaign. “That’s where we’re at with Aaron, a lot of people have looked at it and there are a couple of things still to try.

“Maybe the clock is ticking. I hope not. Something always gets you in the end. He signed on for another year hoping we’d get 15 games.”

Hughes has played eight times for Hearts to date this season. “We certainly haven’t given up hope; there are a couple of things still to try to see if we can resolve it.”