Hearts' Liam Boyce: If I had one leg I’d still want to play against Rangers in final

It was only 12 minutes into last weekend’s match with Rangers that Hearts striker Liam Boyce was forced to make his exit as a groin twinge offered cause for concern.

A disappointing early loss in any game, but in the wider context of what is to come this Saturday, it was a mournful procession from pitch to dug-out.

The club’s top goalscorer, with 16 goals this season, the Northern Irishman has been a key component in Hearts securing their third place league finish and subsequent European qualification. He has played his part in the march towards another Scottish Cup final – the club’s third in four seasons.

And, as he gingerly made for the sidelines, in that league encounter, he was not the only person in Tynecastle fearing that the team would have to do without him at Hampden this weekend.

“Obviously, what happened gave me a bit of a fright. It was sore and I did think ‘oh no’ but since then it’s been getting better and better so I’m a lot more positive now.

‘When I went into the dressing room I was gutted. I just wanted to give myself a chance.

“But, by Saturday night I was walking a bit better. I’d a massive strapping on it. I’m just buzzing that it wasn’t as bad as first thought.

“It’s just a bit of tightness now.”

The 31-year-old sat out Tuesday’s bounce game, which was arranged to give others in the Hearts squad some much-needed action on the road back from injury, and while Boyce says he would play “even if he had one leg”, he says the team has to come before personal desire, which is why he has had to be more sensible in easing his body through the week.

“You don’t want to go into a game without training all week so it’s more of a balancing act in terms of finding out what I can do as soon as possible and build