Hearts have been dealt a major blow with Craig Halkett expected be ruled out until early next year.
The summer signing from Livingston became the latest player to be hit with an injury at Hearts when he suffered a knee injury against St Mirren on Saturday.
The full extent is yet to be confirmed but it's believed he has suffered medial ligament damage and will be ruled out until after the winter break, according to the Edinburgh Evening News .
That means the 24-year-old will miss the next three months of football and pile pressure on an already injury-hit Hearts squad.
Fellow defenders John Souttar and Peter Haring are also injured while Michael Smith - who has filled in at centre back - has also missed games already this campaign.
Clevid Dikamona is an option but he has played just two minutes of football since the opening day of the season.
Halkett moved to Hearts on a free from Livingston and is currently the club's top goalscorer with four goals so far this season.
He also captained the club against St Mirren with Christophe Berra on the bench before suffering his injury.
