Hearts’ Jamie Hamill out for season

By ANTHONY BROWN
Published on 11/04/2012 12:00

Hearts have been dealt a devastating blow with the news that Jamie Hamill is set to miss the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.

Just a matter of days before the Tynecastle side’s biggest game of the season, Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden, Hamill twisted his knee during an indoor training session.

Manager Paulo Sergio has already ruled the former Kilmarnock player out for the rest of the current campaign, but Hearts medical staff believe he could be out for even longer if their early fears are confirmed.

The player’s knee was assessed yesterday, immediately after sustaining the injury, and he is expected to learn the extent of the injury today.

A Hearts spokesman told the Evening News: “He was scanned yesterday and should get the results today but it’s not looking good.”

Hamill, 25, has thrived since being moved forward from right-back to right midfield in recent weeks, and would have been a certainty to start against Celtic at the National Stadium. He has scored five goals this season and is the club’s regular penalty taker.

Ironically, the injury came as David Templeton, a potential replacement, for Hamill wide on the right, returned to training after being sidelined by a persistent groin injury. Templeton hasn’t played since the 3-0 defeat at Motherwell on February 18, so would only have initially been considered for bench duty. However, with a shortage of experienced options available, Hamill’s injury could prompt Sergio to fast-track Templeton into the first team.

Meanwhile, Hearts’ tickets for the semi-final went on general sale this morning.

Related Articles

• The Rumour Mill: Wednesday’s football news and gossip

  In today’s Rumour Mill: Celtic assistant sees next two matches as crucial; Ian Durrant backs Steven Naismith to fight back from injury; Another day of drama at Hearts; plus the rest of the day’s football news and gossip.

  0 Comments

• Hearts grab late quarter-final date with St Mirren

  Extra time came ten days later than Paulo Sergio expected, but Hearts were afforded just enough time to salvage their Scottish Cup dreams in dramatic fashion on Valentine’s night.

  4 Comments

• Mowbray plea to under-fire troops

  HIBS boss Tony Mowbray today admitted it was time to "ring the wagons" as injuries to key players threaten to blow the Easter Road outfit's season totally off course.

• Scottish football briefing - 28 April

  Celtic

• SPL preview: Team news for St Mirren v Celtic | Rangers v Aberdeen | Motherwell v Hibernian | St Johnstone v Dundee Utd | Hearts v Hamilton | Falkirk v Kilmarnock

  scotsman.com brings you all the latest team and injury news prior to this weekend's SPL matches.