Craig Halkett is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury during Hearts’ victory over Kilmarnock.
The centre-back had to leave the pitch just 11 minutes into the match, and Riccarton’s medical team anticipates he will require several weeks to recover.
Hearts head coach Neil Critchley confirmed to Edinburgh News that Halkett’s return won’t be immediate. “Halks has a hamstring issue, so he’ll be out for a while. It’s not a short-term injury,” said Critchley. “I don’t want to set a specific timeline because recovery varies from player to player. Some return sooner than expected, others take longer. But one thing’s for sure—he won’t be back in the next couple of weeks. He’s been excellent for us, so it’s a real setback.”
The 29-year-old defender regained his place in the Hearts lineup in December following Frankie Kent’s quad injury and has played a key role in the team’s six-match unbeaten streak leading up to Saturday’s Premiership clash with Dundee.
With Kent still unavailable, Critchley must find a replacement for Halkett. Lewis Neilson, who stepped in against Kilmarnock, will be eager to stake his claim, while recent signing Michael Steinwender is building fitness and could be in contention.
Halkett’s injury adds to Hearts’ defensive challenges, with Kent and Stephen Kingsley also out. On-loan right-back Gerald Taylor has recently returned from a long-term knee injury, while departures of Daniel Oyegoke and Kye Rowles to Hellas Verona and DC United, respectively, have been offset by the arrivals of Steinwender and Jamie McCart.
