Frankie Kent welcomes Craig Halkett Hearts return as he sends key message over third spot and Euro return

Frankie Kent is delighted Craig Halkett could soon be back in the fight for Hearts backline places.

Tynecastle boss Steven Naismith has issued an upbeat bulletin on the Scotland defender after a knee scare. Halkett missed 11 months of last year due to an ACL issue and there were concerns over a lengthy return to the sidelines when he was forced to come off during last weekend’s Scottish Cup win at Airdrie. However, Naismith, who reckons the Monday night Scottish Cup quarter-final date set to face Morton is the “worst slot you can get” offered encouraging news on his centre back.

The boss said: “We don’t know because he is still going through the process, but he has had a scan and it looks like the detail of that is positive. But I think the whole thing around Halks’ injury is still wrapped around his main injury that he was out with. Players come back, people see them on the pitch and go: They’re back, they’re 100 per cent. That’s not how it works.

“If your body hasn’t done something for nine months and then you’re asked to get back to elite level, there’s going to be dips within that recovery. When they are going from being on crutches or in a boot and coming out of it, they have feelings within the injury and go: Is this normal? Is it not? That’s natural.

“This season is about getting him back out onto the pitch, getting as many minutes as he can and having an impact on the team, which he already has. As long as he gets to pre-season and he has had a block out on the pitch and in training, that’s been a successful return.”

Although Halkett won’t face Motherwell, Kent is delighted his mate may not be miles away and said: “We have a good squad in the sense that one drops out and someone has to come in there has been no