Hearts are dealing with as much as two months with out captain Lawrence Shankland because the Scotland striker recovers from a hamstring pressure, whereas the Scottish Premiership leaders have agreed a deal to hurry up the signature of Rogers Mato.
The Uganda worldwide, 22, had agreed to hitch beneath freedom of contract in the summertime, however now a price has been settled with FK Vardar in North Macedonia.
With work allow and visa points pending, Mato is unlikely to hitch in time for Sunday’s dwelling sport towards champions Celtic.
Shankland, 30, scored his fifteenth objective of the season in Saturday’s Scottish Cup loss to Falkirk earlier than going off in extra-time.
A short assertion through social media revealed Shankland “will miss the following six to eight weeks”.
Hearts lately misplaced influential midfielder Cammy Devlin for the same time scale because of a leg harm, whereas Oisin McEntee, Stephen Kingsley and file signing Eduardo Ageu are additionally sidelined for the Edinburgh facet and Beni Baningime is suspended for the weekend’s massive sport.
Shankland, in his fourth season at Tynecastle, shall be absent for the following derby at dwelling to Hibernian on 10 February, which is adopted by a visit to face Rangers at Ibrox.
Hearts are six factors in entrance of Celtic and Rangers with 16 league matches remaining.
With 11 objectives, Shankland is the Premiership’s prime scorer, whereas team-mate Claudio Braga has 9.
Central defenders Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay are the following greatest with 4 objectives every.
Pierre Landry Kabore and Elton Kabangu got here off the bench for Hearts on Saturday, with teenager James Wilson an alternative choice in assault.
