Liam Boyce will keep taking Hearts' penalties unless Robbie Neilson tells him otherwise

The striker missed a crucial kick in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to Celtic at Tynecastle. After a dismal first-half performance which saw them dominated by their visitors and in a 2-0 deficit, Hearts fought themselves back into things with Boyce converting after a Barrie McKay through ball and had Celtic on the ropes when John Beaton pointed to the spot for a handball by Nir Bitton.

Boyce stepped up, sent goalkeeper Joe Hart the wrong way, but could only watch on in agony as the ball smacked off the inside of the post, flew across the goal-line and curled out for a goal-kick.

It’s the fourth time in seven attempts the Northern Irishman has failed to convert this campaign, though he did tuck away his own rebound after missing against Dundee United in August.

Despite this concerning record, the club’s leading goalscorer this season is backing himself to fire his way out of the slump.

“I’ll be hitting penalties until I’m told you’re not allowed to hit them. One-hundred per cent,” Boyce told the Evening News.

“I don’t know what my penalty record is to be honest. I don’t count goals or misses, I just move on to the next match and keep trying to score.

“My brother sent me a WhatsApp video of it. When I was running up I knew [Joe Hart] was going to that side, so I don’t know why I tried to put it so far into the corner. I also can’t believe it didn’t go in off the post.

“If you’re a penalty taker and don’t hit the target then it’s the worst thing you can do. If you don’t put it in the net it’s a bad penalty, simple as that.

“I’m more concerned with the boys than how I’m feeling. I’m one of the few experienced players in the squad. After the game I said to them that they put so much hard work into the game and deserved to get