Agony for Jamie Hamill as season ended by ruptured cruciate knee ligament

Hamill suffered the injury at Hearts’ indoor training facility yesterday and was immediately sent for a scan.

The 25-year-old will visit a knee specialist next week but is already resigned to missing the start of next season, meaning he would likely be absent for any European qualifiers should Hearts secure continental competition.

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio said on the club’s website: “It is bad news for Jamie as he will be out for a long period. He is one of the guys who never missed a day’s training and then this happens to him and I’m very sad for him.”

It is a blow for Hearts, who meet Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday and are seeking to improve their sixth-placed position in the table to secure European football next term.

The 25-year-old former Kilmarnock defender has been something of a Scottish Cup talisman for Hearts this season. He kept his cool to score a penalty in a fourth-round replay at St Johnstone in the last 16 to force the game into extra-time and again scored in the quarter-final replay win at St Mirren.

Sergio added: “I have no doubt he will come back strongly as he is one of the strongest characters in our dressing room. I am sure he will recover sooner than anyone could imagine as he is a strong guy.

“We all feel sorry for him. We will give him all the support he needs to get through this and hopefully we can deliver a good result for him on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, Hearts shifted more than 10,000 tickets for Sunday’s Hampden clash with Celtic after they went on sale between 9am and 5pm yesterday.