Naismith to sit out weekend
HEARTS skipper Steven Naismith is a major doubt for the Championship clash with Dundee on Saturday as he battles a calf strain.
The Scotland star was replaced after 62 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Inverness last Friday – the club’s third successive stalemate.
Naismith has taken no part in training this week and will be assessed before a decision is made on whether he can return to the fold tomorrow.
Boss Robbie Neilson said: “Naisy could potentially train on Thursday, although he is more touch and go for the weekend.
“We’ll need to see how he is nearer Saturday.”
Neilson is more positive regarding the fitness of right-back Michael Smith, who felt pain in his calf and Achilles in the Highlands and has missed training this week.
The Jambos boss said: “We expect Michael to train. We are just letting his problem settle down for a couple of days.
“He had a tight calf and was feeling his Achilles a bit. Hopefully we’ve brought him off in time to make sure he’s okay.”
JOHN HUGHES believes it is time for full-time referees in Scootland’s top leagues with our game unlikely to embrace VAR.
The Ross County boss accused St Mirren’s Collin Quaner of conning referee Greg Aitken to win the penalty that sealed a 1-0 weekend defeat.
Yogi felt it was an honest mistake but reckons refereeing standards and performances would improve by going full-time.
The Staggies boss said: “I’d make them full-time. I know from my experience of being a part-time player, when I went full-time I became a far better player.
“You are training every day, working on the game and spending the hours on it. You have to improve.”