Hearts hit with huge double injury blow
Hearts boss Craig Levein has been left cursing his luck after receiving the nightmare news that key men John Souttar and Uche Ikpeazu have been sidelined for the next five months.
The Jambos have been this campaign's surprise package, but the Ladbrokes Premiership leaders' title ambitions have been rocked by Thursday's injury update.
Defender Souttar torn the lining of his hip during Scotland's 2-1 Nations League defeat in Israel last week and faces being out for up to six months as a result.
To make matters worse, powerful striker Ikpeazu has been told the foot injury recently bothering him is worse than first feared and now requires surgery, ruling him out until March.
The timing of the news could not come at a worse time for Levein as he prepares for a huge month that starts on Saturday with Aberdeen's visit to Tynecastle and also sees an Edinburgh derby clash crammed in between the Betfred Cup and league double-header with Celtic.
Confirming the double blow, the Jambos boss said: "John will be out for five or six months. He landed awkwardly and tore the lining of his hip, which is a blow.
"While we're on it, Uche will be out for five months as well. This problem we've had with his foot we've managed to finally get to the bottom of. It's a really obscure problem which needs an operation.'