.Robbie Neilson says he expects to have Craig Halkett back in contention for Thursday's European group stage kick-off.
The Jambos host Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday night in their Europa Conference League group stage opener, a section in which they will also take on RFS and Fiorentina. It's been a tough period for Hearts heading into it, who have suffered four losses from five games in all competition while taking on an enforced load of injuries. One of those men put on the side lines in centre-back Halkett.
He is expected back for the visit of the Turkish outfit while Neilson also says that he is still looking at the free agency market following this summer's transfer window coming to a close. The Tynecastle boss has signed goalkeeper Zander Clark on a free and has hinted that more could follow to help his team cope with European rigours after their latest game brought a 1-0 loss against Livingston.
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Neilson said: “Halkett was touch and got for Livingston.. The original injury is okay, he just had a wee spasm. He should be back for Thursday.
"That will be a big positive. We've got a few players coming back and we've got a bit of time to recover. We've asked this group to go again and again.
"We are still looking. Experience tells you that it usually takes a week to ten days, then people start realising: 'That's an option for me.’”
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