Hearts have been dealt another hammer blow after it was confirmed that captain Lawrence Shankland could be out of action for two months with a hamstring injury.
The Premiership leaders were already reeling from the news last week that star midfielder Cammy Devlin is facing a similar period of around eight weeks on the sidelines.
Shankland has now also been crocked after suffering a hamstring strain in the Scottish Cup defeat against Falkirk last weekend.
The 30-year-old Scotland striker, who is the Premiership’s top scorer this season with 11 goals, will be a huge loss to Derek McInnes’ side.
Speaking at the weekend, McInnes said: ‘We’ve got too many injuries going through the club at the minute. We’ve got an opportunity to maybe react in the transfer market this week.
‘Losing wee Cammy Devlin was a blow, Baningime suspended [against Celtic]. It goes without saying that we’re a bit short in that area as well. It will be a challenge but we’ll be ready for them.’
Lawrence Shankland is greeted by Derek McInnes as he leaves the pitch at the weekend… now the Hearts boss is unlikely to see him back in action for two months
Shankland had been in fine form this season, topping the scoring charts with 11 goals
A brief statement from Hearts on Tuesday confirmed that Shankland will miss ‘the next six to eight weeks’, with Hearts already making moves to sign a replacement.
As reported by Daily Mail Sport, the Tynecastle club are pressing ahead with a deal to sign Ugandan striker Rogers Mato from FK Vardar.
Having already agreed a pre-contract for the player to join in the summer, it is understood that Hearts have now agreed a fee for Mato to join with immediate effect.
The 22-year-old has been engaged in a bitter fallout with his employers in North Macedonia. He is now expected to complete his move to Hearts in the coming days.
But with visa and work permit issues to resolve, it is unlikely that he will be signed in time to face Celtic on Sunday afternoon.
Shankland’s injury is another major blow to Hearts’ title aspirations. They currently sit six points clear at the top of the table heading into this weekend’s clash with Celtic.
Along with the injuries to key men Devlin and Shankland, Hearts are also without Oisin McEntee, Stephen Kingsley and record signing Eduardo Ageu.
Shankland will be absent for the next Edinburgh derby at home to Hibernian on 10 February, which is then followed by a trip to face Rangers at Ibrox.
Pierre Landry Kabore and Elton Kabangu came off the bench for Hearts last Saturday against Falkirk, with teenager James Wilson another option in attack.
