Hearts may have been dealt a transfer blow after reported target Eoin Toal suffered a hip injury during a League of Ireland game.
The Derry City skipper has been linked with a move to both Hearts and Salford City.
Robbie Neilson is on the look-out for at least one centre back ahead of his team’s return to the Scottish Premiership.
He deployed a back three as the Jambos clinched the Championship title and with Christophe Berra gone, reinforcements are needed if he wants to continue with that system.
22-year-old Toal could fit the bill, having played 22 times for Derry last season and is already a Northern Irish international.
But any plans to pursue a deal could be affected by the player’s fitness.
City, who count Hearts legend Jon Robertson amongst their former managers, played out a 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers on Monday night.
But the point came at a cost after Toal was unable to continue and had to be replaced.
And Derry boss Ruaidhri Higgins admitted his captain would have to be assessed before the extent of the damage is known.
He told the Derry Journal: "Eoin has got a bit of a hip injury and he'll get a scan and it has been well-documented that Marc Walsh has had hamstring problems over the last year and it's another hamstring issue."
The Jambos have already recruited from Ireland this year after midfielder Aaron McEnef f - a Derry native - joined on deadline day in January from Shamrock Rovers.
