Both Hearts players had to be substituted due to injuries during their 1-1 draw with Aberdeen, prompting an update from manager Neil Critchley.
Left-back Stephen Kingsley suffered a serious injury attempting a tackle in the first half and was stretchered off. Shortly after, centre-back Frankie Kent also went down and had to be replaced. This forced Hearts to reshuffle their defense, with Adam Forrester stepping in, Daniel Oyegoke moving to centre-back, Craig Halkett playing through a back issue, and Kye Rowles filling in at left-back.
Aberdeen capitalized on the disruption when Leighton Clarkson scored, but goalkeeper Craig Gordon made key saves to prevent further damage. Musa Drammeh later equalized, and Hearts nearly snatched victory late on.
Critchley confirmed that Kingsley is on crutches and likely has a hamstring injury, while Kent’s issue appears to be related to his quad. Both players will undergo scans in the next 48 hours. “Kingsley’s injury is never nice to see, and Frankie has been outstanding for us,” Critchley said, lamenting the loss of two key defenders.
Despite the setbacks, Critchley praised the performances of his players, including Halkett, who battled through injury, and Forrester, who impressed after coming off the bench. He also acknowledged the challenges of facing Aberdeen’s dangerous attack but commended his team for fighting back.
Reflecting on the game, Critchley said, “We were fantastic in the second half. Losing two players early disrupted our rhythm, but the players fought back and earned the point we deserved.” He urged his team to remain committed and resilient, emphasizing that there are plenty of games and opportunities left this season.
