Former Rangers striker Steven Naismith has been watching on from sidelines as injury has ruled him out for much of Hearts season so far.
But the Scotland international is targeting a return to action very soon as he looks to help haul Craig Levein’s side up from the danger zone at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
Limited to three appearances this season and ruled out with a hamstring injury since August, he’s targeting Hearts’ upcoming match with Rangers on the 20th October as his return to action to help quell the Tynecastle club’s injury crisis.
“We set up a plan, followed it well and every box has been ticked,” said Naismith, as BBC Scotland report his recovery is on course to return against Rangers.
“I’ve never been involved in an injury crisis like this, it is incredible.
“You’ve arguably got five players who would start every week who are out.
“Then the individual mistakes have been crazy. Six or seven of the goals we’ve lost have been from unforced errors.
“The players have seen on the training pitch what the manager is trying to do and what he expects from us.”
Naismith, who left Ibrox in a cloud of controversy way back in 2012, thoroughly believes that Levein’s side are playing far below their potential.
The feisty striker will be itching to get back to the top of his game and make a difference for Hearts, and knows they can reach another level.
“It’s shown in the Aberdeen and Hibs games the level we need to get to,” said Naismith, 33.
“At the weekend, the boys maybe ran out of steam in a tough week.
“But that’s the minimum now. We play Kilmarnock and then after break, we need to push on and start picking up results. Where we are sitting now is far from ideal.”
Let’s hope Naismith doesn’t help get them there when Rangers visit Edinburgh after the international break.
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