Frankie McAvoy has issued an injury update on keeper Zander Clark.
The Scotland squad man was pulled out of the pre-season clash with Dunfermline after reporting feeling a niggle while kicking the ball during the warm-up. It was decided at that point not to risk the goalkeeper with Harry Stone taking his place between the sticks as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at East End Park.
Skipper Craig Gordon has been ruled out since Christmas and is still working his way back to fitness with Clark vital to the Hearts first team at present. Head coach McAvoy confirmed he didn't want to take any chances and is hopeful it is nothing serious. He insists it doesn't look back but they will get the issue assessed and take things from there.
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Providing an update, he said: “Zander just felt a wee niggle when he kicked so he didn’t want to take any chances.
“Stonesy is a good young goalie, we told him to get a good 90 minutes under his belt, see how he does and how he reacts to it. It’s a big thing playing with that support behind him.”
When asked if Clark's issue was not serious, he continued: “Hopefully. We will find out further but I don’t think it looks that bad.
"He just felt something in his leg. We will get him assessed.”
On the match itself, he added: “I thought in the first half we were very good, without being just that wee bit sharper in front of goal, but that sharpness will come in time.
“I think you could see there were a lot of good patterns in terms of the way we were trying to play.”
“It was great to get Yutaro and the Aussie lads back in. In the second half, we probably lost our rhythm a wee bit. We made eight changes, gave four of the young players a chance to let them show what they can do, and we gave Boycey and Beni some minutes at the end to help them get up to speed.
“It just takes a wee bit of time. We’re disappointed with the goal at the end, but we just need to work on being a bit more clinical in front of goal, but that will come.
“Overall, pleasing to get minutes in the legs and some good parts to take away from the match.”
