Blow for Hearts as Jamie Walker out for 10 weeks

Jamie Walker, pictured in action for Hearts, faces 10 weeks on the sidelines after fracturing his metatarsal. Picture: SNS

Walker hobbled his way through the last few minutes of the 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Motherwell, with manager Gary Locke saying after the game: “The early signs are he’s done his metatarsal, so that would be a disaster for us.

“He’ll get a scan on Monday. And Kevin McHattie had to come off with a hamstring.”

The club’s injury list is mounting, with Walker and McHattie joining reserve goalkeeper Mark Ridgers and Danny Wilson on the sidelines.

Walker’s fellow midfielder Jason Holt also broke his metatarsal earlier in the season, while Locke admitted that Gary Oliver and Callum Tapping shouldn’t have been on the bench, adding: “Gary hasn’t played for four weeks, and Callum is only half-fit.”

Midfielder Scott Robinson is also due to serve a suspension and as a result will miss the upcoming match with St Johnstone.

Locke has made no secret of his desire to be able to bring in one or two experienced heads to support his young team. Currently Ryan Stevenson, 29, and Jamie Hamill and Jamie MacDonald - both 27 - are the elder statesmen of the squad.

Hearts have taken just two points from 27, and trail 11th-placed Ross County by 20 points.

The Tynecastle club will find out later today if a second appeal to the SPFL board to have their registration embargo lifted is successful, although he body has already rejected one plea from Hearts and is expected to maintain that stance.