Hearts manager Craig Levein claims that he is hopeful that Steven Naismith will be available to return to action when his side face Rangers on Saturday.
The Gers welcome Hearts for a Scottish Premiership clash and it will be a return to his former club if Naismith is passed fit for the clash at Ibrox.
The 31-year-old is a senior attacker that moved back to Scotland in the January transfer window and is renowned for his successful spell earlier in his career with Rangers.
He missed Hearts’ last match in the draw against Ross County, but has returned to training and Levein will get a late answer on his fitness.
Naismith is yet to open his goalscoring account for Hearts after his five appearances.
However, the centre-forward scored 33 times during 132 games for Rangers as he won three top-flight titles with them.
“I’m hoping Steven Naismith will be fit to be involved,” Levein said in his pre-match press conference, as cited by the club’s official website.
“He’s had a sort of a lingering hamstring problem. We’re just at that point where I think he might be all right but we’ll have to wait and see. He’s training today and tomorrow.”
OPINION
Many Rangers fans would love to see Naismith back on the pitch at Ibrox despite being in opposition’s colours, but at the same time it would be typical if he popped up against a goal. Graeme Murty’s side need to hold off on any sentiment and focus on picking up three points at home. They will go just six points behind league leaders Celtic if they win, who play a day later against third-placed Aberdeen and are likely to be fatigued from their Thursday night clash with Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League. Rangers are still some way off Brendan Rodgers’ team, but it is important they keep winning and put in a good display at home.