Jamie Walker back in Hearts squad for trip to Kilmarnock
Jamie Walker is back in the Hearts squad for Saturday's trip to Kilmarnock.
The midfielder missed Ian Cathro's last game in charge and Jon Daly's first after both decided he had been adversely affected by interest from Rangers.
Speaking at the club's pre-match media conference, the caretaker boss said: "Jamie should be in the squad this weekend. He has trained well this week, he has worked hard, and for me that's what he needs to get back to doing.
"He's a player that can win you a game of football, he can score goals, he can produce something from nothing. He's a match-winner and he is definitely someone that will be back in the squad, whether that's starting or on the bench, he will be involved in some way."
Daly revealed he had been given no indication of how long he will continue in the role but will at least be given the Ladbrokes Premiership clash at Rugby Park to push his claim for the job on a long-term basis.
The 34-year-old made a mark off the park last weekend when he hit out at Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who had questioned whether Cathro had been given enough control over player recruitment at Tynecastle.
Daly branded Rodgers' comments "absolutely disgraceful" immediately after Celtic's 4-1 victory and refuted the claims about recruitment, adding he would tell the former Liverpool boss he was not happy when he saw him.
But there was no meeting after the press conference.
"We went into see him but they normally have a training group afterwards, so there were players training," Daly said.
"But there's no grudges held. He is entitled to his opinion and I am obviously entitled to my opinion on what his opinion was. That's the end of the matter."
Daly had no regrets about his comments.
"That is one of the characteristics I have, I am a leader," the under-20s coach said. "I was the captain of a big club in Dundee United, so I know what it takes to lead a team.
"Whether I'm in charge or interim charge, you have to stick up for your players and stick up for your team and your club. That was what I was doing.