Liam Boyce has had a ruptured cruciate ligament injury confirmed by manager Robbie Neilson - but the Hearts striker may appear again before June.
The striker went down in distress during Sunday's Premiership win over St Johnstone and will now miss several months with the knee problem. Defender Kye Rowles will also be missing for a minimum of six weeks with a fractured metatarsal, with Nathaniel Atkinson and Jorge Grant in a fitness race ahead of Wednesday's Premier Sports Cup last 16 tie against Kilmarnock.
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Neilson says the longer-term Hearts absentees - Boyce and Rowles - have been hit by blows but both may recover quickly in their respective blows: “It’s a sore one for both guys. Liam’s ruptured his cruciate so he’s set to be out for a number of months, which is hugely disappointing. Kye Rowles has got an issue with his metatarsal which will keep him out for six to eight weeks.
"It’s really disappointing from that aspect but we just have to move forward on it. [Liam] did his cruciate on the opposite knee and was back within six month.
"So hopefully that it’s similar with this knee. We’ll help him as much as we can. We’re hoping to get him operated on pretty quickly and then it’s just a case of getting him back.
"Kye was a suspected metatarsal on Sunday and that’s come back with a wee fracture in it. That will be six to eight weeks depending on how it heals."
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