Craig Halkett OUT of Hearts Conference League clash with Fiorentina as defender loses fitness race

Crocked Craig Halkett will miss Hearts blockbuster Europa Conference League clash with Fiorentina on Thursday.

The 27-year-old's campaign has been derailed by injuries when just a month after limping out of the Europa League play-off first leg defeat to Zurich with a hamstring problem, the centre back was crocked just 20 minutes into the the Conference League group stage match against Latvian champions RFS and had to be replaced. He now looks set to miss another major European night for the Jambos.

The Scotland cap missed the following two Scottish Premiership fixtures with Motherwell and Rangers, and now looks set to sit out the blockbuster clash with the Serie A side. He missed Robbie Neilson's final training session at the Oriam before the Group A showdown at Tynecastle, and is also likely to be sidelined for the league clash with Kilmarnock and the Conference League trip to Florence as well.

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