MX23RW : Wednesday, January 15 13:43:13| >> :60:167:167:

Craig Levein not worried about Steven Naismith's workload after injury

Craig Levein not worried about Steven Naismith's workload after injury
© Reuters
The striker has recently returned from knee surgery.

Hearts manager Craig Levein has no fears about Steven Naismith starting three games in eight days after his comeback from knee surgery.

Naismith played 78 minutes of Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Aberdeen in his first appearance in eight weeks.

And Levein is ready to start the forward against Hamilton on Boxing Day as well as the Edinburgh derby three days later.

"I don't think there is any problem," Levein said. "His fitness isn't an issue. He did a lot of work when he came back after his little op on his knee. He has got a good engine already and I have no fears about him."

Hearts only won one match in nine games during Naismith's absence but Levein is confident ahead of the Tynecastle clash.

"It's an important match for us," he said. "I felt good about a lot of stuff we did on Saturday, our football was better. The likes of Steven back in the team helps that.

"We get Arnaud Djoum back, who is one of our best players. So I feel good about this match.

"I know Hamilton had a good result at the weekend against Kilmarnock but I feel that the players are getting their confidence back and that will help us in this match."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '6ff2ac3c-c0e6-4fe5-9860-75f150da85f1');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Craig Levein not worried about Steven Naismith\u2019s workload after injury'});

ID:345115: cacheID:345115:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3342:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Hamilton Academical manager Martin Canning pictured in 2016
Read Next:
Hamilton hoping MacKinnon and Keatings will be fit to take on Hearts
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic23193164115360
2RangersRangers22135441182344
3Dundee UnitedDundee Utd2310763124737
4Aberdeen2210573230235
5Motherwell2394102837-931
6Hibernian237883436-229
7Dundee2376103741-427
8St Mirren2383122738-1127
9Kilmarnock2367102537-1225
10Ross County2367102342-1925
11Hearts2366112531-624
12St Johnstone2343162547-2215


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!