Heart of Midlothian's pursuit of a first Scottish top-flight title since 1960 has been dealt a severe setback with the news that midfield linchpin Cammy Devlin will be sidelined for a significant period.
Devlin's Injury Blow Details and Timeline
The Australian international was forced off in clear distress during stoppage time of Wednesday's 2-0 victory over St Mirren at Tynecastle. Manager Derek McInnes offered a grim initial assessment post-match, stating "I don't think it looks good."
Subsequent medical evaluation has confirmed those fears. Devlin is now expected to be absent for approximately six to eight weeks, which would see him return to action around March. The 27-year-old has been an ever-present this season, starting all 22 of Hearts' league matches in their surge to the summit of the Premiership.
Title Charge Faces Crucial Test Without Key Man
Devlin's absence leaves a substantial void in the engine room for Derek McInnes. Widely regarded as one of the standout performers in Scottish football this season, his energy and tenacity have been central to Hearts' style and success.
The timing is particularly cruel as the Edinburgh club enters a potentially decisive phase in their historic quest. Currently holding a six-point lead at the top, the squad must navigate this period without a pivotal figure.
The injury news casts a shadow over the club's Scottish Cup campaign, which begins this Saturday with a home tie against Falkirk. Debate had already surfaced regarding how seriously Hearts should treat the knockout competition given their league position, but the squad remains publicly committed to fighting on all fronts.
Squad Depth and Morale Under Scrutiny
Left-back Harry Milne, who himself defied online rumours of a season-ending injury to feature against St Mirren, insists the group has the necessary depth. "We want to win everything we're in," Milne asserted. "We've got a big squad that will have to be rotated, for sure... I think we've got a squad to compete on two fronts."
Milne also provided a light-hearted dismissal of the social media speculation about his own fitness, revealing his partner had shown him the false reports. "I was like, 'that's funny'. It was just objectively wrong," he said, confirming a specialist had given him the green light to continue playing.
While Devlin joins Michael Steinwender, Stephen Kingsley, Oisin McEntee, and Ageu on the unavailable list, there is a minor boost. Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow returns from suspension, though Beni Baningime's ban remains in effect for league matches only.
The coming weeks will now serve as the ultimate test of Hearts' title credentials and squad resilience as they aim to overcome the loss of their influential Australian midfielder.
