Heart of Midlothian

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Hearts begin their post-split fixtures with an Edinburgh derby at Hibs on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from the Tynecastle boss:

• Oisin McEntee will miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury sustained in the win over Motherwell last time out. He joins Tomas Magnusson and Ageu on the sidlelines for the remainder of the campaign.

• McInnes describes the Irishman's absence as a "real blow" but says: "My focus is on the players who are available to us, as harsh as that sounds."

• Craig Gordon is not in training yet but is "doing a bit of handling with the rest of the goalkeepers". Harry Milne is progressing well from a calf problem and could make the weekend's game.

• McInnes believes Hearts have the hardest first post-split fixture but is "proud" of his players' achievements so far and wants them to "finish the job".

• McInnes knows that as well as chasing a European spot, Hibs will be fired up to "put a bit of damage onto us". He adds: "That's fine. but equally, we've got to go there and try and be the quality Hearts team I know we're capable of being and winning a game that we know we can win."

• There is "never a meaningless" Edinburgh derby no matter where the clubs are in the table and Hearts are "well aware of that".

• McInnes says it will be a "big ask" for any club to win all five post-split games, but a good start can provide vital momentum and "confidence that anything is possible".

• The Hearts boss adds: "We go into it a point ahead of everybody else and we're still fighting, we're still believing, we're still swinging. We still feel there's more wins in us and we feel that if we can get enough, then hopefully we get the reward at the end of it."

• On Hearts' defeat at Easter Road earlier in the season - when they three three down before losing 3-2 - McInnes admits they were "murder" in the first half and lost "awful" goals before being the better team after the break.

• McInnes is aware of Versailles midfielder Tom Renaud but wouldn't be drawn on reports Hearts are close but signing the Frenchman.

• With Beni Baningime, Cammy Devlin and Marc Leonard all fit and available, McInnes was asked whether they can play together. "I think good players can play with each other," he says. "Obviously, they're all a bit different to each other. It's getting balance in the team, whether it's in the forward areas, whether it's defensively or whether it's midfield. I'm just pleased I've got so many good players to pick from."

• On how McInnes and his players are dealing with the title pressure and staying calm, he says: "There is a lot of humour and a lot of enjoyment with us. Football's not always easy... but I think it's got to be there to be enjoyed. And I do feel that when you're in and around it, it feels as if we're just enjoying our work."

• McInnes says January arrival Rogers Mato still has a part to play this season, adding: "He's got that speed that can cause teams problems, but we'll just try to channel all that. We're looking for those improvements quickly. But we don't want to just say he's here for next season. He's got a part to play, as everybody else has this season, but how big a part he plays is up to Rogers."

• McInnes is delighted for Hearts-bound Josh McPake to have won the Championship title with St Johnstone, saying: "It's a club with a lot of people I know and one I have a lot of affection for, so it's great to see them back. Josh, when he got his future sorted for next season in January, wanted to go out on a high and I think it says a lot about him. He's been first class for them."

We asked for your views on which Hearts player has been the biggest disappointment in the club's memorable season.

Here are some of your views:

Kevin: Ageu seems to fit the pre-Jamestown mould of signings - lots of hype with little product, and very injury prone! Hope he can kick on next season, but even his limited appearances haven't been impressive.

John: No shortage of candidates for this unfortunately. Any of Islam Chesnokov, Rogers Mato or Pierre Landry Kabore could get the nod here but it has to be Ageu. Allegedly costing £1.8m and no doubt with considerable wages alongside that yet he's played about 60 minutes all season, appears to have all the strength of wet paper and looks like a colossal failure currently and a gargantuan waste of money.

Dave: Obviously Ageu, however the other has to be Calem Nieuwenhof. The boy has had absolutely no luck with injuries, I was hopeful we would see him kick on this season.

Richard: There are a few who've come in and not featured so that's disappointing. I don't want to name individuals who have underwhelmed but it's fair to say that Ageu, who came with a bit of a fanfare, hasn't been allowed to do his stuff due to injury so that's been a bit of a letdown.

David: There are several players who would fit in this category. I have, however, gone for Elton Kabangu - looked lively and with a few goals when he joined on loan - given a contract and he's completely disappeared from view! With no comments from the management then you have to wonder what has happened. An end of season exit surely - together with several others!

Alan: Underwhelming player is tough to come up with. If I had to I'd go for Ageu, right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Nieuwenhof and Finlay Pollock. Injured most of the time so unfortunately had to be.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

No more respite. This is it.

Four weeks from now, Hearts fans will either be on day four of a week-long bender, or will be questioning whether they can ever watch football again.

The Gorgie side go into their post-split curtain-raiser with a one-point lead at the Scottish Premiership summit.

If you had offered that scenario to any Jambo at the start of the campaign, you would currently be reading this with one hand.

However, with Rangers and Celtic breathing down their necks as they aim for a historic top-flight title, the pressure is about to crank up to a new level.

A mouthwatering top-six finale starts with Celtic hosting Falkirk on Saturday evening, Rangers entertaining Motherwell on Sunday, before a box-office Edinburgh derby closes out another blockbuster weekend.

So what sort of shape are Hearts in as they prepare for one of their most significant trips to Leith in recent memory?

Derek McInnes' players might look a little bronzer when they take to the Easter Road pitch after spending part of the past week getting a sweat on in Spain.

Former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson questioned the decision to opt for a warm-weather training camp at this stage of the season, but McInnes sees the benefits.

The head coach has been boosted by the returns of influential trio Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin and Stuart Findlay in recent weeks, while Harry Milne stepped up his recovery in Spain.

Shankland, Devlin and Findlay all played important roles in Hearts' comeback victory against Motherwell last time out - a result that means they go into the split with 10 points from their past five games.

The next five will determine whether McInnes and his players achieve what many felt was unthinkable at the start of this season.

They face trips to Motherwell and Celtic, plus home encounters with Rangers and Falkirk, following Sunday's derby at Hibernian.

Those five exact fixtures at their respective venues have already contributed more than 10 of Hearts' 70 points this campaign.

Mirroring those results in the split would likely ensure that McInnes and his squad become legends. The next month will reveal all. Buckle up.

Last week we asked for your Hearts player of the year - and Claudio Braga emerged as the top choice.

Now we want to know the Tynecastle player who has been the biggest disappointment this season.

It could be a new signing who has underwhelmed or an existing squad member who has failed to kick on despite the table-topping club's memorable campaign.

Share your thoughts here.

Hearts showed the grit and character that has been integral to their Scottish Premiership title charge in their comeback win against Motherwell last time out.

The 3-1 victory extended their unbeaten home run in the league this season, but the stakes will rise on Sunday when they travel to face Edinburgh rivals Hibernian in a mouth-watering post-split derby.

Derek McInnes' men can expect an intense and hostile afternoon, but can they arrest their alarming away form to make another statement in their push for a historic top-flight title?

A 2-2 draw at the bottom side Livingston at the start of April means Hearts have picked up just one point from their past four league matches on the road, with three straight defeats at Kilmarnock, Rangers and St Mirren coming prior.

Throw in December's derby loss at Easter Road, and Hearts have suffered defeat in four of their past seven away games and have failed to win five of them.

In fact, after starting the season with four straight victories on the road, they have won just four of the following 12.

The league leaders' league form on the road is the division's third best, four points worse off than Rangers and three behind Celtic.

Three of Hearts' five post-split fixtures take place away from Tynecastle, with trips to Motherwell and Celtic following Sunday's short trip to Leith.

There are also home encounters to come against Rangers and Falkirk, which will give McInnes' side the opportunity to stretch their stellar home form.

However, failure to end a four-game winless away run could prove to be the difference. Sunday would be a good time to arrest that.

Ray Bradshaw will be joined by fans up and down the country on Monday for This Is Fans Only to discuss the weekend's biggest points.

Supporters will come on live and viewers will get the chance to join in on the debate, as well.

The show will be broadcast live on the BBC Sport Scottish Football YouTube channel at 18:00 BST.

To make sure you don't miss any bespoke video content, make sure to subscribe to the channel HERE, external.

Josh McPake, the 24-year-old winger who will join Hearts this summer from St Johnstone, has revealed that he was poised to join Forest Green Rovers until then manager Troy Deeney had a rant against his own players and was dismissed shortly afterwards. (The Courier), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Hearts are pushing to close the signing of Versailles defensive midfielder Tom Renaud, with the 25-year-old set to become a free agent this summer. (Daily Record), external

Aalesunds chief executive Tarjei Gjendemso Omenas says there were clubs in Norway's top flight and other parts of Scandinavia interested in Claudio Braga before the 26-year-old forward's move to Hearts last summer. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes says he went against his usual policy of avoiding loan deals to sign Marc Leonard from Birmingham City in January but thinks the 24-year-old midfielder was the right player available at the right time. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, FC Versailles

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Claudio Braga was the winner when we asked Hearts fans to choose their best player of a memorable season so far.

Few could have expected the sunning impact the Portuguese has had since joining on a three-year deal from Norwegian second-tier outfit Aalesunds last summer.

We've taken a look at the numbers behind Braga's campaign and it's clear to see why Hearts fans are raving about the attacker.

The 26-year-old is neck and neck with Lawrence Shankland on 17 goals for the season across all competitions - but in the Premiership Braga leads by one, having netted 14 in 13 games.

While other key players have been struck down by injury at various times, Braga has been a near constant. His 2,935 minutes played is the most of any outfield Hearts player.

Braga is averaging a goal every 182.3 minutes, basically one every two games, and his 92 shots (43 on target) is the highest in the league, as are his five headed goals.

He has also contributed two vitally important game-winning goals. In January, he netted in a 1-0 victory at Dundee. He did the same at home against Aberdeen at the end of February in a match which, at the time, moved Hearts seven points clear at the top.

The striker is outperforming his expected goals (xG) of 13.35, and is helping to set them up too. His combined goals and assists of 17 is also the third best in the division and he has created 44 chances - among the top 10 players in the league for that category - seven of which have been big chances.

If Hearts go on to lift the Premiership trophy in May, Braga will certainly have played a huge part.

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We asked you to tell us your choice for player of the season at table-topping Hearts.

Here are some of your picks:

Peter: When there is talk of a Portugal call-up, you can't look past Claudio Braga. Smooth operator who works his socks off for his team-mates and the fans. A gem of a player who will 100% be on the move this summer, hopefully for over eight figures, where his effect on this club will be felt for seasons to come.

Chris: Braga by a nose. He's been sensational, has terrified defences and led the line during Lawrence Shankland's absence. He also has the best song! But there are loads in contention including Cammy Devlin, Harry Milne, Alexander Schwolow, Alexandros Kyziridis and captain fantastic Shanks himself. Take a bow lads.

John: Cammy Devlin.

Calum: So hard to pick but it's Harry Milne for me. He's done what's asked of him in every game and defends and attacks brilliantly. It will be massive for us if he's back for the run-in and, for my money, he deserves to be on the plane to America this summer.

Seann: Claudio Braga - great wee player and never gives up.

Tam: The fact that it is so difficult to choose tells its own story. For me, it's Cammy Devlin. His energy, enthusiasm and attitude have been amazing and it's great to have him back in the side.

Steve: So many worthy mentions after our season so far but Braga has been one of the best finds ever to play in Scottish football. His skill-set, honesty and work-rate means he's not just a flair player but scores in the big games too. If he makes a Portugal squad he will be our first £10m-plus player sold and will still be a bargain.

It's been one of the most memorable seasons in recent years for Hearts fans and it's not over yet.

Derek McInnes' side occupy top spot in the Scottish Premiership with five games to play and could land their first title in more than 60 years.

The recruitment has been impressive and their head coach has done an incredible job of getting players who were already in the building firing, but who in particular has stood out?

Who has been your Hearts player of the year? Tell us here.

Hearts are awaiting the scan results on defender Oisin McEntee's suspected hamstring injury - after the verdict came back in Spanish. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes is focusing on giving Hearts a "change of scenery" this week but knows what's waiting for his players when they return to domestic action.

With Hearts not involved in the Scottish Cup semi-finals this weekend, they have used the free time to head off for a warm weather training camp in Spain.

The Tynecastle club, currently a point clear at the Premiership summit, return to action on 26 April with a derby trip to face Edinburgh rivals Hibernian at Easter Road.

"We thought a change of scenery, a change of environment, would allow the players to focus on themselves for a period," head coach McInnes told Hearts TV. , external

"We're hoping we get the benefit of it. I don't think it does us any harm. It's not going to guarantee better results but I certainly think there's more good from it than anything else.

"We're still to get word back on Oisin McEntee. He is feeling better, we got him scanned out here but the scan results came back in Spanish so we need to get that translated to see the extent of it.

"Harry [Milne] is stepping up his work, Tomas [Magnusson] is here but we know he's up against it to get back playing before the end of the season.

"We're mindful it's an opportunity to top up some work for the lads that have not been playing."

While McInnes is striving to take his players' minds off the pressure-cooker title race, he admits the looming derby - the first of Hearts' five post-split fixtures - is "hard to ignore".

"We're trying not to think too much about that game at the minute," McInnes said.

"It's important not to get too caught up in it but it's hard to ignore. We know what's waiting for us but we want to try and make sure we produce a performance we've shown more often than not throughout this season."

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Next weekend's Edinburgh derby away to Hibernian could be key for Hearts in their quest for a historic Scottish Premiership title.

Hearts have led the way for much of the campaign and enter the five-game post-split schedule with a one-point lead over Rangers while Celtic are three off the top.

Easter Road has proved an unhappy hunting ground for Hearts in recent years. They have lost back-to-back visits, including a 3-2 defeat this season, and their past seven league trips have yielded just one win.

Elsewhere in the first round of post-split fixtures, Celtic host Saturday and Rangers entertain Motherwell. Depending on those results, anything other than a victory in Leith could see Hearts lose their spot at the top.

"The Edinburgh derby is the first game of the fixtures and it's such a momentum builder," says Hearts fan Liam Corbett, of the This is My Story podcast, external.

"I think that's probably a game in the calendar that Celtic and Rangers will look at and say that's going to be a very difficult game for Hearts and we've already lost there this season.

"You lose that then you're joint with Celtic on the same points and you're a point or two points behind Rangers if everybody wins their games and you lose yours, which is huge for mentality when there will only be four games left.

"Whereas if Hearts win that match, next game's at Tynecastle, we've got such a good record at home. Then the Hearts v Rangers game becomes absolutely massive because whatever happens in that game, the next one after that is Celtic v Rangers.

"The connotations of just not just looking after your own games, but then the game that follows you, for Celtic and Rangers, becomes massive."

• Hear more Hearts analysis on Wednesday's episode of the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.

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Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam reckons the three-way title race is too close to call and will come down to who can "hold their nerve the most" in the sprint to the finishing line.

With long-time leaders Hearts a point ahead of Rangers and three above stuttering champions Celtic, there are now just five rounds of fixtures remaining as the Premiership season enters the split.

Adam, who began his career Rangers, could make a case for any of the three sides going on to clinch what would be a momentous achievement.

"If you'd asked six weeks ago, there was an obvious winner, but now I think it's a flip of a coin," said the 40-year-old.

"I think it's week by week, game by game, and I think there's a lot of swings still to go in the title race.

"I didn't see Hearts being there at the start of the season and then I said I thought Hearts could win it and then they dropped points.

"Then Celtic were coming with a run, probably not playing as well as they feel they can, but they were picking up wins.

"And Rangers have just motored since Danny Rohl's came in, so I don't think you can really call anything.

"What a good thing it is for Scottish football that there's a bit of drama from now to the end of the season, and it's about who can hold their nerve the most."

With Celtic in Scottish Cup semi-final action against St Mirren this Sunday, Hearts and Rangers have both opted to go to abroad this week for their warm-weather training camps.

"I think it's good, it's an opportunity," said Adam.

"Hearts were looking to do that a few weeks ago and go to Dubai, but obviously, there was a problem to go there (with hostilities in the Middle East).

"And now both clubs have managed to do it. What I would say is I think they'd rather be playing here at Hampden in a semi-final.

"They've now got a chance to get the lads together, letting them relax a little bit, maybe a game of golf, a bit of dinner, just keeping them together.

"Because when you're in the training ground you don't spend as much time and you're going home and you're coming back.

"But when you're in there for four or five days, you're with everybody 24 hours a day, and it's a great way to keep camaraderie, get good team spirit and focus on the split."

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Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay says the club's main focus is "finishing off what we've started" as they edge closer to an historic league title win.

The Tynecastle side, bidding to end 41 years of Old Firm dominance and claim their first top-flight crown since 1960, are a point clear of Rangers and three above Celtic before the final five post-split fixtures.

"We're delighted. We look back to a year ago and where we were sitting and I don't think any of us could have imagined this, to be brutally honest," McKinlay told Hearts TV., external

"It's been wonderful, but there's still five big games to go and we still fully believe we can get this over the line.

"Yes, it's been a fantastic season, no matter what happens, but that's not the way we're thinking at the moment, it's not about that.

"It's about now finishing off what we've started, and the guys have done amazingly to get us to this situation."

McKinlay apologised to Hearts season-ticket holders who will have to move seat for European games next season to ensure Tynecastle complies with Uefa regulations.

A top-two Premiership finish this season will earn Hearts a place in Champions League qualifying, while they are guaranteed at least Conference League qualifying after the 3-1 win over Motherwell ensured they can end no lower than third.

"We are having to make some changes around press boxes, which unfortunately will be displacing some fans, and I am sorry for that because I know people don't like to move, but hopefully we'll get them into other really good, if not better seats than they're currently in," said McKinlay.

"And to be fair, I think in the main there's been a real understanding there that it's something we've had to do to make sure we can play our games at Tynecastle, which we're all wanting to do.

"We're all desperate that that's Champions League, but we'll see how that all pans out."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

Hearts have been top of the Scottish Premiership for all but one of the past 166 days.

With no league action this weekend, I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing my nerves are safe with Hearts at the summit.

I'll need the time to decompress after the 3-1 home win against everyone's adopted second team, Motherwell.

The Steelmen have rightly taken plaudits for their style of play this season but Jens Berthel Askou's men will also win the best dramatic performance award in 2026, months before the Edinburgh Fringe.

Of course, it's a clear penalty for the kick to Pierre Landry Kabore's skull. My frustration isn't with Old Firm or Hibs supporters claiming they know the rules better than Ifab and Kabore should have been booked for dangerous play, it's the fact referee Matthew MacDermid didn't initially see the incident.

I know VAR gets regularly panned by pundits and supporters, but the intervention from Steven McLean thankfully ensured justice prevailed.

The match could have gone differently had Tawanda Maswanhise not spurned a glorious opportunity to put Motherwell 2-1 up, but even taking my maroon specs off, Hearts did enough to earn victory.

Enormous credit to Derek McInnes for his in-game management. I wanted more proactivity last week; the switch to 4-2-4 after the hour, at 1-1 against Motherwell, was exactly that.

Throwing on Kabore and Sabah Kerjota on the right, with Claudio Braga left, was bold - maybe too bold for some - with 30 minutes left.

It paid off. Kerjota used the extended runout well and Kabore's late goal felt like the reward for giving him ample time to find his rhythm.

Now McInnes has a welcome selection headache for the final five games.

Kabore suddenly looks a genuine option with confidence and goal threat, while Kerjota is pushing hard to start for the first time in maroon.

Add Marc Leonard back after suspension and, finally, the matchday squad is trending the right way.

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The Scottish Premiership's title contenders all won on the same weekend for just the second time this season, each finding a way to a vital three points to stay in the fight for the trophy.

Celtic got past St Mirren with a solitary goal at Parkhead, while Hearts came from behind to defeat Motherwell 3-1 in a cracker at Tynecastle.

That put the focus on Rangers on Sunday, and after Danny Rohl's side went two behind at Falkirk, they responded to win 6-3 in a remarkable game.

Those results kept the teams separated by just three points with five games to play, and former goalkeeper Cammy Bell thinks each side will have taken a boost from delivering under pressure.

He believes Rangers will be buzzing after avoiding a "banana skin", while Hearts found "huge, huge moments" to deliver late goals in their game.

And looking at all three contenders, he says they will all have the belief they can continue to stack up wins.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, the former Hearts and Rangers player said: "I think there will be different confidence levels within each club. But listen, you can break it down.

"It's difficult. They all won. And that's the main thing this weekend. They all got three points to move on and that's what they're going to have to do between now and the end of the season.

"It was a big win for Celtic on Saturday. They weren't probably at their best, but they get the job done. That's what it's going to be about between now and the end of the season; a bit of luck or a bit of magic.

"That's what you're looking for from your players. And trying to get three points because ultimately, if you can manage to do that most weeks, you'll end up top of the table and win the title.

"I think it's just made for a brilliant run into the end of the season with all three of them winning this weekend. It's so close, so tight and so difficult to call.

"There's going to be huge games coming up. We all know that it's going to be a blockbuster finish to the end of the season."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Kelle Roos (Kilmarnock): Not the finest all-round performance but came up clutch deep into stoppage time to deny Dundee from the spot and save a potentially priceless point for Killie.

Alexander Jensen (Aberdeen): Pushed back a little bit but impressed at wing-back against Hibernian. Tanked up and down the touchline and coped well when Hibs were trying to put him under pressure.

Krisztian Keresztes (Dundee United): Admittedly, not the finest weekend for defenders, but the substitute hauled United level with an important header to allow them to push on for a late win against Livingston.

Will Ferry (Dundee United): And here's the man who set him up. Ferry also opened the scoring with a superb solo goal at Tannadice.

Hyun-jun Yang (Celtic): Few in green and white impressed in a narrow win over St Mirren at Celtic Park, but the South Korean showed up again.

Nicolas Raskin (Rangers): For his second-half showing at Falkirk. The Belgium international was like a man possessed after the break with an abundance of fight, quality and creativity on show. Displayed his very best as Rangers ripped Falkirk apart in a bonkers second 45.

Beni Baningime (Hearts): Back alongside Cammy Devlin in the engine room and back pulling the strings for Hearts. A classy performance - again - in the crucial win over Motherwell.

Emmanuel Gyamfi (Aberdeen): Outside his needless incident with Hibs striker Owen Elding, for which he was shown a yellow card after a VAR review, the wide man was Aberdeen's biggest threat in one of his better performances for the Dons. Hooked balls in at every chance he could, something Stephen Robinson will be desperate to see more of.

Sabah Kerjota (Hearts): Came on in the 66th minute and immediately became Hearts' set-piece taker, whipping in inviting deliveries - including one that led to the second goal. His cameo performances have impressed to the point there is clamour for him to start the upcoming Edinburgh derby over Alexandros Kyziridis.

Kevin Nisbet (Aberdeen): The man grateful for those deliveries from Gyamfi. Kept his cool from the spot against his former side before smashing the much-needed second over the line... just. Big, big goals and an equally impressive all-round performance.

Lewis Smith (Livingston): Doing all he can to keep Livingston in the league, chipping in with another two goals. Even if the Lions are relegated, which is increasingly likely, Smith should remain in the top flight. One wouldn't think he'd be short of suitors.