Stephen Kingsley admits Hearts pain amid form slump but insists injuries can't be an excuse

Stephen Kingsley insists Hearts are hurting from their recent run of results - but has vowed that they will not use their extensive injury list as an excuse.

Robbie Neilson ’s side have only won three of their last 14 games, although that sequence of fixtures includes European matches against teams such as Istanbul Basaksehir and Fiorentina. The latest domestic set-back was a 2-0 reverse at Aberdeen on Sunday, a result that leaves Hearts seventh in the Premiership.

It does not get any easier with reigning champions Celtic the visitors for Saturday’s lunch-time clash. A congested fixture schedule and injury issues to key personnel such as Craig Halkett, Liam Boyce, Kye Rowles, Michael Smith, Josh Ginnelly and even - at times - Kingsley himself have also been factors. And the former Falkirk and Swansea defender insists Hearts’ recent fortunes need to change quickly. He said: “It’s difficult for the coaching staff. They need to pick teams and keep everyone motivated to come in and change the atmosphere because it is sore.

“Everyone is hurting just now. I’ve never really seen anything like it (with injuries), to be honest.

“I feel like every game we are getting another injury. It’s not just a slight knock, it’s something needing looked at and possibly a few weeks out.

“I’ve never seen this magnitude of bad injuries, like minimum two-week injuries. The gaffer has said 11 first-team players are missing.

“It’s a period we are going through and we need to see out. We can only do that by sticking together and trying to grind out some results.”

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