Craig Levein has confirmed that Hearts lynchpin Peter Haring is roughly four weeks away from a return to play.
The Austrian has been out of action this season with a pelvis issue. The Jambos have really missed his influence in the centre of the park.
Levein has said the midfielder is recovering in his native Austria ahead of a return to Gorgie.
He told the Edinburgh Evening News: “We sent him home because he doesn’t really have anybody here to support him. “It’s fine when you’re playing but when you are injured it’s a bit more difficult.
“I always find it puts players mentally in a calmer place if they are back home. All being well, Peter should be back in four weeks not far away from being ready to play. That would be a good scenario for us and for him.”
Hearts need Haring
The addition of Glenn Whelan and Loic Damour, factored in with the emergence of Andy Irving, has somewhat limited the effect of losing Haring.
Nobody can quite play that sitting CDM role like the Austrian. He is an enforcer in the middle of the park, a real leader that others look to for inspiration.
Last term he featured 37 times, scoring seven goals and notching three assists (Transfermarkt). From CDM, he has proven that he’s not just big headers and crunching tackles, Haring contributes to the attack too.
They will want him back. When on song, Haring is arguably Hearts’ most influential player. He missed 14 games last season and Hearts only secured victory in six of them, one of which was over a junior side.
His return is still a bit off though. Four weeks is a long time in football and he’ll miss next month’s Edinburgh derby most likely. The Jambos would have loved him to return in time for that clash.
It’s up to the likes of Damour, Irving and Whelan to cover for him. Jambos boss Levein will be desperate to get him back in the fold sooner rather than later.