It could be a truly historic year for Heart of Midlothian amid the most fiercely contested Scottish Premiership title race in years, with Derek McInnes potentially set to welcome back an injured star this month.
Hearts seal vital 1-0 Edinburgh derby win over Hibs
The pressure is on Hearts to maintain their lead at the top of the table, and their precious 1-0 win over cross-town rivals Hibs has done wonders to keep momentum going.
Substitute Tomas Magnusson’s 88th-minute thunderbolt sparked jubilant scenes inside a rain-soaked Tynecastle.
The Icelandic midfielder converted Harry Milne’s superb left-footed delivery to secure three vital points that moved McInnes’ side briefly six points clear of Rangers, and nine ahead of defending champions Celtic.
The 18,766 supporters witnessed a tense, frenetic encounter played on a sodden surface that restricted quality throughout.
Tuesday’s victory maintained Hearts’ astonishing momentum in their pursuit of a first league title since 1960, which would represent Scottish football’s first title outside Glasgow since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen did it in 1985.
Derek McInnes reveals why Hearts’ James Wilson was wrong to join Tottenham
The Hearts boss says the young striker has made a mistake.
McInnes’ side have lost just three of their 26 league games this campaign, demonstrating extraordinary resilience whilst grinding out results when attacking fluency deserts them.
Tony Bloom’s near-£10 million investment last summer has seemingly reshaped the Tynecastle outfit’s entire philosophy, with the Brighton chief so far making good on his promise that Hearts can upset the apple cart of Celtic and Rangers’ Scotland stranglehold.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be investing in Hearts,” Bloom exclaimed last June.
“I firmly believe in the club’s ability to disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football which has been in place for far too long.
“This great club has a bright future and I look forward to seeing that unfold in the months and years ahead.”
Bloom’s Brighton-style data-driven recruitment has delivered exceptional value, with the entire squad assembled for just £5.4 million – a fraction of Rangers’ £52.3 million and Celtic’s £86.8 million outlays.
McInnes deserves enormous credit for the tactical adjustments that unlocked a vital victory against Hibs, all while working with an injury-ravaged squad minus star men like Cammy Devlin and Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland.
It could be a while before we see the latter back in action, with Edinburgh Evening News correspondent Barry Anderson reporting that Shankland is aiming for a late March return against Dundee at the earliest.
The Hearts captain, who has bagged 15 goals across 26 goals in all competitions this term, is a sore miss indeed for the Jam Tarts, but McInnes has done wonders to make the system work without their talisman.
Devlin is an equally noticeable absentee, but Anderson has better news when it comes to the Australian’s potentially imminent return.
Cammy Devlin targeting February injury return at Hearts
The reporter, writing in an Edinburgh Evening News piece, claims that Devlin has his sights on a return to action on February 28 against Aberdeen.
Hearts could yet be cautious with the 27-year-old and delay his comeback until March 14 against Kilmarnock, but either way, Devlin’s inclusion will eventually be a huge boost for McInnes.
The midfielder is a mainstay for Hearts, having started every single one of their Scottish Premiership matches before his ankle problem, and he’s a vital cog in McInnes’ team.
The four-cap Aussie international is out of contract this summer and could leave for free, so Tynecastle bosses will be desperate to keep hold of the player by negotiating an extension.
Devlin claimed back in December that he was no closer to penning a new deal, but perhaps Hearts can use this time off the field to reopen a dialogue.
The former Wellington Pheonix ace has been lavished with praise for his form this campaign, with ex-Celtic star Scott Brown hailing his arrogance and quality on the ball.
“I’m really enjoying Devlin at this moment in time,” Brown told Sky Sports.
“He’s got this little bit of arrogance. He plays now with confidence; he plays with his chest out. He looks like a top, top quality player.
“He reminds me of Callum McGregor when he was younger. He gets on the ball and drives the team forward. Everyone at Hearts looks to him. Looks to him to go and get on the ball, to go and make the tackle, to go and set the tone early doors in the game. And that’s what he is doing at the moment.”
Hearts face off against Rangers in another all-important six pointer this weekend, with more eyes on the Premiership title race than ever.
Derek McInnes reveals why Hearts’ James Wilson was wrong to join Tottenham
The Hearts boss says the young striker has made a mistake.
