MX23RW : Friday, March 29 02:20:51| >> :120:19927:19927:

Hearts boss Craig Levein spots "green shoots of recovery"

Hearts boss Craig Levein spots
© Reuters
Levein is encouraged by a contracting injury list.

Hearts manager Craig Levein can see "green shoots of recovery" in their season.

Levein's side have ground out draws against Rangers and Livingston since he heavily criticised his players in the wake of a home defeat by Kilmarnock.

Hearts have only won one of their 10 Ladbrokes Premiership games ahead of facing bottom club St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday.

But Levein is encouraged by a contracting injury list with the likes of Jamie Walker and Steven Naismith back in training.

Levein said: "We have put in two really competitive performances on the back of the Kilmarnock game when I felt we weren't at it.

"My reason for getting a little bit happier is Jamie Walker and Naisy have a history of scoring double figure goals in the Premiership and they are nearly back.

"Obviously I don't expect them to go from being injured to scoring hat-tricks every week but it will feel much more comfortable for me and the rest of the team to have people at the top end of the pitch who can score.

"We are starting to see the green shoots of recovery, I hope."

Naismith has barely played this season because of hamstring problems while Walker suffered a leg fracture on August 16.

"Of the two, I think Jamie is slightly ahead," Levein said. "All being well, I think Jamie will be on the bench, which is good.

"Glenn (Whelan)'s feeling much better as well, so there's a chance he could be on the bench as well. Loic (Damour) is injury-free and available, which is good.

"Aidy White is available – he had concussion after the Rangers game as well, so he missed the game at the weekend.

"There's four that are not going into the starting line-up obviously, but it's good to see that they're starting to appear on the team sheet."

On Wednesday's challenge, Levein said: "It's a while since we have managed to get a victory up in Perth so we will need another strong performance and hopefully we can come back with three points."

ID:376724: cacheID:376724:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3419:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Craig Levein pictured in April 2017
Read Next:
Levein "frustrated" after Hearts held by Livingston
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic30225371234871
2RangersRangers29231564164870
3Hearts3017493930955
4Kilmarnock30111183933644
5St Mirren30126123637-142
6Hibernian30911104145-438
7Dundee2999114050-1036
8Motherwell30711124147-632
9Aberdeen3079143348-1530
10St Johnstone30610142141-2028
11Ross County3069152851-2327
12Livingston3038192052-3217


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!