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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
Matthew Fulton

Lawrence Shankland Hearts injury boost as Robbie Neilson reveals update amid European 'good position' claim

Lawrence Shankland should be ready for Hearts to take on fellow European hopefuls Aberdeen at the weekend.

It will be a major boost to Robbie Neilson's men who sit five points ahead of rivals Hibs in third but have been inconsistent in recent games, owing to back-to-beat defeats to top side Celtic and a loss to Rangers last month. But the Jambos will be looking to return to their solid vein of form and have notably missed 21-goal forward Shankland since his injury was revealed prior to facing Ange Postecoglou's men.

Neilson admits it's been a 'tough' period with injuries but revealed a few more bodies should be available for the trip up north and that Hearts' must only look at the history books to understand the importance of what consecutive European campaigns would do for the club.

READ MORE: Toby Sibbick launches Scottish football standard defence as Hearts star makes 'educate yourself' claim

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He said: “Lawrence Shankland has trained the last couple of days. Hopefully he’ll get through tomorrow and be ready. Robert Snodgrass is the same as Lawrence, trained the last few days then barring an injury tomorrow he should be available. Alex Cochrane is the same.

“Peter Haring’s in full training at the moment. More realistically it’ll be after this international break when he’ll be available for selection, then we’ll take it from there.

“It’s important to have as many of your key players as you can. We’ve had a kind of difficult period (with injuries) all season. This wee period here we’ve been losing a number of our attacking options which makes it a bit more difficult but, ultimately, we’re in a good position just now. We’re looking to get a few of them back for the weekend and hopefully carry that forward.

“Again, you’ve got to look at the bigger picture. If we finish third twice in a row then it’s the first time since the early 00’s that we’ve done that, and we’ve had a European campaign. We’re sitting in a very good position.

"Aberdeen and Hibs, and a number of other teams, have improved, as have we ourselves and now it’s a fight to get that third position.

“The most important thing is the game on Saturday. It’s not about focusing on when we’re going to secure it, if we’re going to secure it…win the game on Saturday and it puts us in a brilliant position.”

READ NEXT:

- Hearts and Hibs pre-split fixtures in full as battle for third spot and Europe heats up

- Robbie Neilson labels Hearts' clash at Aberdeen 'massive' with chance to increase gap in Euro chase

- Four Hearts stars land Australia call-up for Ecuador 'Welcome Home' series after World Cup heroics

- Hearts and Hibs fired warning by Graeme Shinnie with Aberdeen 'back in the fight' for Europe

- Tynecastle handed elite UEFA status as Hearts prepare for European glitz and glamour ties

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