Neil Critchley has explained why Lawrence Shankland misses out for Hearts today.
Captain Shankland is not in the matchday squad for the game at Ross County this afternoon as manager Neil Critchley goes with Liam Boyce in attack.
Hearts fans were left in disbelief at the team Critchley named as Jorge Grant, Boyce and Adam Forrester replace Craig Halkett, Cammy Devlin and Shankland from the team that lost the Edinburgh Derby to Hibs on Boxing Day.
Supporters are concerned about the line-up and have even questioned whether the manager is trying to send a message to the board ahead of the January transfer window.
And pundit and Jambos legend John Robertson reckons County will ‘fancy their chances’ against that XI.
Critchley explains Shankland Hearts injury
The Hearts boss has revealed his number nine has picked up a calf injury which he felt after the Hibs defeat.
After training yesterday, it was decided it was best for the Scotland international to sit this one out.
Critchley told BBC Sportsound: “Yeah after the Hibs game he felt his calf a little bit.
“He trained yesterday, gave himself every opportunity to try and take part today, you can see he’s obviously travelled with us, but didn’t quite feel 100 percent this morning.
“No real improvement from yesterday’s training session so not a risk we can take.”
Critchley on January transfer window
The Englishman has already spoken a lot about plans for the January transfer window.
It arguably takes on greater importance after recent results and Hearts have made their move for striker Elton Kabangu.
Critchley has offered an update and said: “I think it’s quite obvious there are some areas of our squad that need reinforcement and with any window you wanna try and strengthen the squad.
“If you can do that at the beginning of the window it helps, you don’t wanna wait until the end.
“But January’s a notoriously difficult window, it’s not like you’re gonna sign players who are doing really well for their clubs because they’re not gonna let them go.
“You have to look at the areas of the squad you think can be reinforced, do they come in capable of making an immediate impact and then do they move forward in the long-term.
“It’s delicate but we’re working extremely hard behind the scenes and hopefully we can do some work.”