Walker and Roberts available to face Dunfermline but Hearts manager says Ginnelly won’t be fit for trip to East End Park
Heart swingers Jamie Walker and Jordan Roberts are available to face Dunfermline tonight after injury but Josh Ginnelly is still out.
Internationalists Craig Gordon, Liam Boyce and Michael Smith are expected to return to the side, with Boyce informing manager Robbie Neilson that a knee knock sustained with Northern Ireland is not serious.
Neilson had hoped Preston North End lo a nee Ginnelly would overcome a thigh problem in time to feature at East End Park, but that won’t be possible. Midfielder Andy Halliday is in the squad.
"G in nelly will beano. He won't make it,” admitted Neilson. “Walker will be fine, Roberts is back in, Elliott Frear is back in, so Josh is the only one we're waiting on.
"We will maybe get him for Tuesday against Alloa but, if not, we will definitely get him for the following game."
Gordon won his first Scotland cap in more than two years on Sunday against Slovakia. Smith lined up in Northern Ireland’s midfield on Wednesday and combined with Boyce for the striker to score his first competitive international goal against Romania. “Michael Smith came in on Thursday, Boyciew as getting the ferry back and then Craig is just turning up for the warm-up. They should all be fine to get involved,” added Neilson.
"Boycie got a wee kick on his knee but I've spoken to him and he said he's fine. Michael came in just for a massage to be ready for the game, and Craig is fine. They're all good.
"It' s quite a quick turn around, especially for Michael and Liam who both played on Wednesday. They both played 70 minutes or something but it is what it is.
"After this game they've got Saturday, Sunday and Monday before we play again so they should be fine.”
Dunfermline and Raith Rovers sit joint top of the Championship table on ten points, with Hearts a point behind having played one game less.
"I always like going to Dunfermline,” said Neilson. “It's a good surface, a nice stadium to play in. Generally we would take a big crowd but obviously we can't do that just now.
"There will be a bit of atmosphere there under the floodlights so I'm looking forward to that.”