Robbie Neilson 'quietly confident' over Hearts injury boost for Fiorentina as duo given Conference League return shot

Hearts have received a double injury boost with Andy Halliday and Michael Smith in contention to be fit to face Fiorentina on Thursday.

The Jam Tarts sit third in Europa Conference League Group A as they travel to Florence knowing a victory would take them above the Serie A side. However boss Robbie Neilson has been sweating over the fitness of several key star ahead of the clash. But the Edinburgh Evening News reckon Hearts are quietly confident the defensive pair will be able to feature in Italy as they look to spring a shock after losing 3-0 to the same opponents last week.

Halliday limped off near the end of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership draw at Kilmarnock, while Smith was left out completely in order to recover from a tight hamstring picked up three days prior. It isn't all good news on the injury front though with Craig Halkett unlikely to play in Tuscany.

He is still on the road to recovery after a reoccurring hamstring problem and will not be rushed back into action until he is ready. Halkett’s return is eagerly anticipated due to how reliable he usually is the Hearts backline but he is being given the necessary time to regain full fitness.

Hearts form has plummeted in recent weeks as the Gorgie club struggle to balance domestic football with being competitive in Europe.

Nathaniel Atkinson salvaged a point against Killie deep into stoppage time but Neilson's men have fallen to 5th in the league with just the one win from their last four games in Scotland's top-flight.

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