Hearts boss Neil Critchley says patience is key for both Andres Salazar and Liam Boyce as the pair aim to get more game time this season.
Colombian left-back Salazar was signed in the summer on loan from Atletico Nacional but the tremendous form of James Penrice, coupled with the fact Stephen Kingsley is second in the pecking order, has made things very difficult for him.
Salazar has made just one Hearts appearance this season against Motherwell, while his teammate further up the park Boyce hasn’t made too many more.
The 33-year-old is often plagued with injuries and halts any sort of momentum he tries to build up. He’s been in and out of matchday squads and has started just twice.
But Critchley has commended Salazar and Boyce’s attitudes despite being left out of recent matchday squads and says continuing to work hard in training gives them the best chance of appearing more in the maroon.
Salazar and Boyce handed Hearts hope
In regards to Salazar, the Hearts manager told the Edinburgh Evening News: “We have Kingsley on the bench and he can play left-back or left centre-back. Sometimes there is just a tactical reason for choosing people on the bench.
“Andrés is in the same situation as other players that, when you’re not in the squad, you have to keep training well, be patient, work hard, and that opportunity might arise at some point. Musa is a good example of that.
“Andres knows the situation. It’s not been easy for him since he came to the club. He had a game against Motherwell and now he just has to be patient and keep training well.
“We played a game behind closed doors recently against Dundee and he did well in that game. All he can do is keep working hard and control the controllables.
“That’s the most difficult part of my job. I have to leave players out of the squad. I have to say Boycie, who has been out of the squad, his reaction to that and his training have been fantastic.
“He is a really good guy and a good professional. Again, he just needs to keep concentrating on his training, be patient and wait for his opportunity.”
Who else can’t get a game at Hearts?
Of the more senior players in the Hearts squad, the likes of Musa Drammeh, Zander Clark and Craig Halkett are not seeing too much action.
However, Spanish forward Drammeh introduced himself properly to the world of Scottish football with a stunning strike against Celtic on Saturday.
He came off the bench to score the long-range effort and with that sort of finishing, he could be given more chances domestically by Critchley.
Drammeh isn’t currently able to play in Europe for Hearts due to being left out of the registered squad – but the 22-year-old has hope.
Clark has been usurped by the ever-impressive Craig Gordon between the sticks and centre-back Halkett, despite being fit for some time, is behind Kye Rowles and Frankie Kent.