Perry Kitchen to skipper Hearts for the first time
Hearts have a full squad for the Ladbrokes Premiership game against Ross County.
Perry Kitchen will lead the team out for the first time since being named club captain, replacing Alim Ozturk, who has not made a league appearance this season.
When asked why Kitchen had been selected, head coach Robbie Neilson said: "One, his performance on the pitch has been really good. He is an American international, he has led the team on the pitch and his performances have been second to none.
"Also, round about the place, he is a great character to have. He is one that leads the training, he leads the gym work."
Hearts are looking to bounce back from last weekend's 1-0 defeat at St Johnstone.
Kitchen said: "We have to shake off that St Johnstone defeat. It's not going to be easy, Ross County will come here looking for a result.
"We have to do our best to get back on the winning column and try to put another winning streak together."
Ross County striker Alex Schalk is out due to a knee injury.
The 24-year-old injured his medial ligament in the goalless draw with Rangers at Ibrox last weekend and will miss the next two matches.
Striker Liam Boyce returns to the squad after missing the Gers game with a back spasm and defender Jay McEveley is back from suspension.
Ross County boss Jim McIntyre said: "If you analyse last week's performance Hearts could have won two games with the amount of chances they had.
"Sometimes you get games like that in football where the opposition take their chance and you miss five or six.
"They faced an inspired goalkeeper in Zander Clark last week who had a great game but they certainly played well.
"We went through footage and their performance was very good.
"Tynecastle has a fantastic atmosphere, it is a great place to go and play your football.
"The crowd is right on top of you and like going to any big ground, you want to turn that crowd against the home team by getting off to a good start and getting that first goal and that is our aim."
Source: PAR
