Robbie Neilson reveals more Hearts transfer aggression could be required after Kye Rowles and Liam Boyce injuries

Robbie Neilson admits Hearts may have to be more aggressive in the final week of the transfer window than they had initially planned after suffering further injuries.

Kye Rowles and Liam Boyce were both on the scoresheet in the Jambos’ 3-2 win over St Johnstone at Tynecastle, but both were forced off after scoring. Rowles injured his foot as he landed, having just powered a header beyond Remi Matthews to cancel out Graham Carey’s opener. Boyce headed the hosts into the lead, but was later stretchered off after hurting his knee in attempting to make a tackle. Replacement Lawrence Shankland scored the winner from the penalty spot with nine minutes left after Andy Considine had nodded in at the back post to make it 2-2.

Nathaniel Atkinson also limped off with a groin problem so now recruitment may have to be stepped up. German midfielder Orestis Kiomourtzoglu was confirmed on a three-year deal before the game, signing from Eredivise outfit Heracles Almelo.

Neilson wanted another couple of bodies in the door anyway. But he admits that that figure may have to be revised depending on scan results. “Firstly I’m delighted to get the three points but disappointed to lose a couple of players as well,” he told BBC Scotland. “We’ve picked up a few injuries and the squad was down to the bare bones going into the game.

“Fingers crossed we can get some of them back for Wednesday and hopefully these guys aren’t as bad as first thought. But all in all, it was a pleasing performance coming off the back of a massive game against Zurich on Thursday night.

“We have to rotate the squad to bring that energy and freshness. We’ve spoken all along about having quality over quantity and that’s what we’re trying to do. The guys that came in