Naisy ready for a return at Gayfield
HEARTS are ready to welcome back skipper Steven Naismith for their clash with Arbroath.
The 34-year-old has been toiling with a calf complaint sustained against Inverness last month and has sat out the Jambos’ wins against Dundee and Ayr.
But the Scotland ace resumed full training at the club’s Oriam training base yesterday morning and, providing there are no complications, is expected to be in contention for Saturday’s trip to Gayfield.
Naismith has notched five goals in 21 appearances for Hearts this term and now faces a battle to regain his place.
But with Liam Boyce potentially away with Northern Ireland duty later this month, the veteran’s return is a welcome boost.
FRUSTRATED John Hughes admits his players might need to join the party if diving is going to become the new norm in the Premiership.
The Ross County boss accused Martin Boyle of conning referee John Beaton for a penalty before avoiding another booking for diving in Hibs’ 2-1 win in Dingwall.
Yogi also pointed to the fact that his side had a soft spot-kick awarded against them when his side lost 1-0 at St Mirren last month.
The 56-year-old believes refs are being tricked and although he would never instruct his players to go down easily he knows it could be the difference between picking up points or being left empty-handed.
He said: “If my guy dives on Saturday and we get a penalty I’ll take it!
“If it’s part and parcel of the game then we have to join the party if that’s the way it’s going.
“One thing I’ll never do is coach it, I’m an honest guy but the boys are telling me on Saturday we have a ref, Craig Napier, who booked Harry Paton for diving in a game against Dundee United – and it was a stonewall penalty!”
Celtic’s Albian Ajeti was recently served with retrospective action for alleged simulation but the case was thrown out.
Hughes believes more players need to be named and shamed.
He said: “A Compliance Officer sees they’re diving but can’t punish players because it means they’re saying a ref got it wrong.
“It means divers get away with it – and that’s not right either!”