Celtic-linked star suffer 'significant' injury as uncertainty sparked after being left on crutches
The midfielder has been linked to Celtic and Sheffield United player.
A star linked with Celtic and Sheffield United this summer now faces a nervy wait on his injury status after leaving a Saturday night clash on crutches.
Hoops fans would have tuned into Hearts’ trip to Motherwell hoping the Jambos dropped points, as they lead the league ahead of matchday 35 by three points, with three games to go. Celtic can now go within a point of them after the 1-1 draw at Fir Park but it also allowed a closer look at Hearts’ Birmingham City loanee Marc Leonard, who this week has been linked with summer moves to Glasgow and Sheffield United.
Admirers of Leonard are claimed to reside at Celtic while Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder watched him live during Monday’s win over Rangers. He was helped off the pitch at the end of the first half after a blow and left the ground on crutches with an Achilles injury confirmed. Boss Derek McInnes explained the situation surrounding the star who will head back to Birmingham City this summer with a level of uncertainty on what comes next, with defender Craig Halkett stretchered off through a similar problem after half-time.
What Hearts players were injured vs Motherwell?
McInnes said: “Both Achilles injuries. Both significant time out, I think. Both were leaving on crutches. I've had one player in my whole time do that - Big Marvin Elliott at Bristol City. I can remember it happening. I've been managing 18 years or so now and I've never had another Achilles injury with a player. That's two in the one game, which is so unusual.
“I don't know. I need to see it again. I think he [Leonard] got a slight nudge forward and there was a coming together. I don't think you can put any blame on that. Obviously, you have to contend with severe injuries. I looked at the boys that turned up tonight in their big jackets, sitting in the stand behind us.
“What a team that would be. That team would qualify for Europe. Then we've got another two, Halkett and Marc. Both have been brilliant this season but we're going to have to deal with these final two games without them.”
Derek McInnes on Motherwell 1-1 Hearts
On what the draw means for the title race, McInnes added: “We understand that when it gets to the stage of the season, every decision can be pivotal. Every team selection I pick, every performance is pivotal. And I take comfort in the fact that my team still played to win. This Motherwell team are such a good side.
“This is a difficult place to come. And, you know, in normal circumstances, it's not the worst result. It isn't really the worst result in the sense that if somebody had said to us, going into the post-fixtures, you'd have seven points from Easter Road, Rangers and Motherwell away, you'd have grabbed that because that's good shooting.
“You're accumulating points as you go along. Yes, we came to get three. We wanted three and we played to get three. And that's the good thing about the team. I think you can see why Motherwell have been so good this season and had so many plaudits, rightly so. A well-coached, managed team, good players. But I think you can also see why we are where we are. The fight and the spirit of the team. Despite the difficulties, we're losing two key players. Despite kind of being patched up in midfield a wee bit, we needed our bodies in there and we've kept trying to find a way to win the game.
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