Trio doubtful for Locke
Hearts boss Gary Locke has three players doubtful for the Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell at Tynecastle on Saturday.
Skipper Danny Wilson has been laid low with a tonsillitis bug while defender Kevin McHattie is struggling with a hamstring injury and midfielder Callum Tapping has a virus.
Midfielder Jamie Hamill returns to the squad after a one-game ban.
Locke will once again struggle to name seven substitutes due to injury and illness but midfielder Sam Nicholson and his fellow youngsters are treating that situation as a positive.
"It can be a bonus for the players who are on the bench who are wanting to get on," he said.
"Billy King, Adam King, Dale Carrick, we are obviously wanting to get on and with less players on the bench there is more of a chance."
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall is trying to sign Henri Anier permanently.
The 23-year-old Estonia international has been at Fir Park since the summer on loan from Viking Stavanger.
The former Bradford boss said: "There has been a lot of stumbling blocks.
"I think we are almost there but there is no confirmation as yet.
"We are looking to keep him as our player, to take over his contract and add a couple of years on. He is available to play.
"If it doesn't happen this afternoon, we are hoping it will be concluded over the weekend and he will be a Motherwell player."
Source: PA
