Craig Gordon hands Hearts injury boost but Steven Naismith reveals fresh setback to another Jambos star

Craig Gordon has stepped up his comeback as the Hearts skipper edges towards a long-awaited return to fitness.

But the Jambos have been hit by a fresh blow with Alex Cochrane ruled out for a minimum six weeks after damaging his ankle in training and joins Barrie McKay on the sidelines. Ahead of the clash with Aberdeen, Steven Naismith provided a mixed report on the injury front with Beni Baningime, Calum Nieuwenhof and Stephen Kingsley all back in contention for a start.

Brighton loanee Odel Offiah will also return to Tynecastle next week having returned to his parent club after taking ill during the international break. And an added bonus was the news on veteran goalkeeper Gordon who has been sidelined since suffering a horror double leg break on Christmas Eve last year. Naismith said: “Alex is out. He blocked a shot in training and it damaged his ankle so he will be out for a minimum six weeks. Beni and Nieuwenhof have come back in.

"Craig Gordon is back out on the pitch but there’s no return date for him. He is back and doing quite a bit but it is stage by stage to see how he reacts before we move to the next stage.

“It is not a case of saying that in two weeks he will be fine. He is in a good place, though. He’s hungry and desperate to get back involved and that’s a good sign after such a bad injury.

“He is doing most football things but he’s not back in the squad in terms of game related stuff. Maybe if it’s specific patterns or shooting then he might get involved in that but he’s not so much back the group for the main parts of sessions.

“He is back on the grass two or three days a week and other than that, I don’t need to know exactly where he’s at until I know he is back with the group. I will take control of