Robbie Neilson faces fresh Hearts injury blow as 2 stars handed Conference League fitness race

Craig Halkett and Alan Forrest are major injury doubts for Hearts ahead of Thursday’s crucial Europa Conference League clash with RFS in Latvia.

The duo are rated touch-and-go by boss Robbie Neilson with the Jambos due to fly out to Riga on Wednesday. Halkett hasn’t featured since hobbling off after just six minutes of the Europa League play-off defeat to Zurich on August 18 with a hamstring injury.

Forrest is struggling with a foot knock and both players will be assessed by the club’s medical team over the next 24 hours. Hearts - already without long-term absentees Liam Boyce, Kye Rowles and Beni Baningime - are seeking their first points in the group after Thursday’s opening day thrashing at home to Istanbul Baseksehir. But RFS served notice of their form again last night when they demolished Spartaks Jurmala 3-0 in Riga to move level second in the Latvian top flight.

Neilson said: “Halkett will be touch-and-go again. He is training a bit with us today (Monday) so we will build it up a bit tomorrow and then see where he is with it.

“He had a wee issue and came back and then it flared up again. It's one of those issues we need to take our time with now but I’m hopeful we can get him for Thursday, at least for some sort of game time.

“Alan is in the same position. He had a wee problem with his foot so we will wait and see how he is over the next couple of days.”

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