Goal–shy Hearts could be handed a Europa League blow as Steven Naismith confirmed Lawrence Shankland is a doubt to face Viktoria Plzen. The striker is yet to open his account during what has been a nightmare start to the campaign for the Jambos. And he may not get the chance against the Czechs with a “contact injury” meaning he’s touch and go for the Europa League playoff second leg at Tynecastle. The capital club must turn around a 1-0 deficit from last week’s first leg after Daniel Oyegoke’s last gasp own goal.
Hearts have only scored twice in six competitive games thus far: Frankie Kent’s consolation goal after a first-half collapse at Dundee and Yutaro Oda’s strike that offered a glimmer of hope in Lanarkshire before an error from debutant Andres Salazar extinguished it. Shankland sustained the injury during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Motherwell, which saw him withdrawn towards the end of the 90 minutes.
And they may now be without last season’s top scorer for their bid to make the league phase of the competition rather than drop down into the Conference League. “There’s a quick turnaround from games,” said Naismith. “There’s not much training. We’ll give it as long as possible and see how he is tomorrow.
He reported it following the match. He was the only one who was unable to play yesterday and today on the field, though there were a few other bumps and knocks.”
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