Heart of Midlothian

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Harry Milne hopes to put a "frustrating" start to his Hearts career behind him and show he can become a regular next season.

The 28-year-old, a January signing from Partick Thistle, made just his second Hearts appearance in the midweek win over St Johnstone when regular left-back James Penrice was rested.

Milne, hoping for another outing when Hearts end the season away to Kilmarnock on Sunday, said: "I was happy to get the game, especially here at Tynecastle, before summer so there's not as much of that unknown aspect with me in terms of the connection with the fans.

"The day-to-day, everything about the club, the facilities, the boys, the squad, the standard, from that aspect it's always been really good.

"But it has been really frustrating not being able to play as many games as I'd like.

"There's both sides of the coin - I'm happy to be here, of course, because it's a wonderful club and everything about it and the size of it, but I would like some more time on the pitch."

Milne believes he will benefit from the gentle bedding-in period when he looks to impress the new manager - Derek McInnes is set to be appointed - during the summer.

"It's been good that I've been able to come in at the end of January, rather than coming in summer, because I'm more familiar with everyone around the club," he added.

"Not just my team-mates but the staff and being able to move through to Edinburgh and things like that and get settled in. I feel settled now and I just want to kick on next season."

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• After their 1-0 win in December, Kilmarnock could win back-to-back home games over Hearts in the top flight for the first time since March 2014.

• Having won 3-2 in January, Hearts are looking to pick up back-to-back top-flight victories over Kilmarnock for the first time since April 2010 (run of 5).

• Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, Kilmarnock have won on matchday 38 in four of their past five Scottish Premiership campaigns (D1) since a 2-1 defeat to Ross County in 2016-17.

• Hearts haven't won their final match of a top-flight season in any of their past 18 attempts (D6 L12 – including curtailed 2019-20) since a 3-2 win over Motherwell in 2003-04.

• Hearts have 49 points in the Scottish Premiership this season – a win in this match will mean they would have the most points by a bottom-six side in a campaign since St Johnstone in 2018-19 (52).

Manager Derek McInnes told Kilmarnock he would not be in the dugout for Sunday's final game of the season against Hearts before Wednesday's defeat by Motherwell. (Scottish Sun), external

Derek McInnes told Kilmarnock's players that he had managed them for the last time moments after their defeat by Motherwell on Wednesday night. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Charlie Mulgrew discuss the managerial situation at Hearts.

We asked for your views on Hearts' 2-1 win against St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you said:

Alexander: Rotten performance against the worst team in the league. Looking forward to Derek McInnes coming in. It will be interesting to see if he's allowed to appoint his own coaches or has coaches loyal to Ann Budge and Craig Levein foisted on him like Daniel Stendel and Neil Critchley. Liam Fox being a very much Budge and Levein man!

Gordon: Sensible choice for the new manager, but this has come only after years of wasted millions and debacles, for example, the shambles of the main stand rebuild. There are deeper problems at Hearts, of governance and accountability, with the Foundation of Hearts a passive nodding dog. These problems need addressed. Perhaps Tony Bloom's investment may help shake the governance structure up and help restore natural order.

Chris: Beautiful weather, decent football, but months too late. What could have been. Harry Milne looked very good, and Lawrence Shankland is playing with a freedom he's been missing. Fox must have a part to play in any new set-up.

Ken: As usual, when you play a great player like Shankland in the right position, he scores, but he has more to his game. Can't believe supporters were giving him stick.

Peter: It is difficult to understand why we persisted so long with Shankland playing deeper. I think it was done to lift the pressure off him for a while, but although it showed he had other strengths, it undermined his self belief, essential to a successful striker. I was not for giving him a new contract, but now I hope we do. McInnes is a good move, but please do it properly and not with the farcical waiting for Budge to return from holiday and the prospect of our new manager leading Kilmarnock against us. Only Hearts could be so silly.

Watch highlights as Hearts win 2-1 against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

Hearts are in talks with Zemplin Michalovce winger Alexandros Kyziridis, with the 24-year-old Greek out of contract at the Slovakian club this summer. (Daily Record), external

Hearts have held talks with Zemplin Michalovce winger Alexandros Kyziridis and Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov, currently with Tobol, but with Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes due to move to Tynecastle next week, any unsigned deals are likely to be on hold until he assesses the first-team squad. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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• Alan Forrest has scored in each of his last 3 games in the Premiership (3 goals), his longest scoring streak in the competition.

• Lawrence Shankland has assisted 8 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Hearts player.

• Hearts have won their last 3 games in the Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 2nd January 2024 to 17th February 2024, a run of 6 games.

• Graham Carey has scored his fourth goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 15th February 2025 against Kilmarnock.

• Graham Carey has now scored 4 goals in 13 appearances in the Premiership against Hearts.

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It's hard, once again, to look past the influence of Shankland, whose fingerprints were on both Hearts goals and looks utterly transformed since Liam Fox took interim charge and restored him to his preferred position.

Alan Forrest was lively down the right, and the two men enjoying rare starting opportunities, Harry Milne and Yan Dhanda, menaced in attack.

Hearts fans, were you at Tynecastle for the final home game of the season or following from home?

What did you make of your team's win, the players leaving, and the prospective arrival of Derek McInnes as manager?

Send us your thoughts here.

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Hearts interim head coach Liam Fox told BBC Scotland: "We're delighted with the win.

"It was a very hard-fought victory.

"First half, some of the football we played was really good. Second half we had to show a different side to the team, we had to really dig deep and defend and the players worked really hard.

"Overall, I'm really, really pleased."

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Should, as is widely expected, Derek McInnes take up the managerial mantle in Gorgie, talks with Lawrence Shankland will be high on his agenda.

The club has reportedly opened discussions with the out-of-contract striker already, and McInnes is likely to see the man he signed and released at Aberdeen as his attacking fulcrum.

Shankland has endured a barren season, deployed at the tip of a diamond rather than in a striking position, but his form since Neil Critchley's dismissal has been mightily encouraging.

Though he did not burnish his tally of five goals in three games, he laced another impressive outing with flourishes of class, his confidence restored and mojo rediscovered.

His sweet touch put Forrest through for Hearts' second and the sight of Shankland unleashing a 50-yard drive with predatory intent brought Tynecastle to its feet.

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Beni Baningime has been told "very good things" about potential new Hearts boss Derek McInnes by Tynecastle team-mates.

Hearts are closing in on the appointment of Kilmarnock's McInnes, although an official announcement may not come until the sides meet in what would be an awkward final game of the season at Rugby Park on Sunday.

Midfielder Baningime believes McInnes would be taking over a Hearts squad that can finish third next season and prove this term was an "anomaly".

Prior to tonight's visit of St Johnstone, he said: "I think from the boys that obviously know him, they're saying very good stuff about him.

"I spoke to Shanks [Lawrence Shankland] about him, I spoke to Barrie McKay, and just all the boys that have known him, he worked in person with Shanks at Aberdeen, and they're saying very good things.

"I think my time here, we've been quite successful, so I would be hoping this season is an anomaly, that we had a really bad season and that's it.

"The ambition at the club and the trajectory that we're going on as a club and also us as players, we can't allow another season like this one to happen.

"I was speaking to Cammy (Devlin, who also joined Hearts in 2021) and we're like, this doesn't happen here, in our time being here, we've never experienced this.

"We got third and then kind of bottled it when we finished fourth the following season. But yeah, we had third, so it should actually be three thirds in a row, but we obviously didn't get that.

"But this season's just been like, how are we down here? How is this happening? It's been a strange one. It's draining when you're not winning. I think we all need a break and then come back and redeem ourselves next season, hopefully."

Hearts, in conjunction with Jamestown Analytics, are set to revamp their squad this summer but Baningime insists there is already plenty of quality for McInnes to work with.

"We need to remember, these are the same boys that two of the last three years were easily third, and, as I said, fourth, where we probably should have been (third)," said Baningime. "You don't become bad players overnight.

"It's a strange one. I do think we have to be better, but I do think the foundation we have with players and the quality and, most importantly, character is good enough for us to get third and beyond next season."

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• Hearts have won their past nine league meetings against St Johnstone since a 2-1 defeat in February 2022. The only current Scottish Premiership side on a longer ongoing winning run against a current opponent in the competition is Celtic over Ross County (13).

• St Johnstone have lost nine of their past 10 Scottish Premiership away games at Hearts, including their past five in a row since a 1-0 win in December 2019 under Tommy Wright.

• Hearts have only won their final home game in one of their past 10 top-flight league seasons (D4 L5 – including the curtailed 2019-20 season), a 2-1 victory over rivals Hibernian in 2017-18.

• After failing to win their final away league game in five successive seasons from 2018-19 to 2022-23 (D2 L3 – including curtailed 2019-20 season), St Johnstone won their last on the road in 2023-24, 2-1 at Motherwell.

• Hearts' Lawrence Shankland has been directly involved in eight goals in his past 10 league appearances against St Johnstone (six goals, two assists), assisting both of his side's goals in their 2-1 win in February.

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Hearts will be without goalkeeper Craig Gordon (shoulder), Kenneth Vargas (knee), Gerald Taylor (knee) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring).

Blair Spittal could be back after missing out on Saturday, while Jamie McCart (groin) is pushing for a return.

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari expects to be selecting from an unchanged squad, with Zach Mitchell (hamstring), Drey Wright (ankle), Bozo Mikulic (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) still out.

Hearts' plans to unveil Derek McInnes as their new manager have been put on hold until chairwoman Ann Budge returns from holiday. (Herald - subscription required), external

Beni Baningime says Scots Barrie McKay and Lawrence Shankland have played down fears about long ball tactics should McInnes take charge at Hearts. (Record), external

Hearts' new boss will inherit a squad eager to prove this season has been an "anomaly", with the side having missed out on a top-six finish. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

St Johnstone's Daniel Balodis backs team-mate Uche Ikpeazu to show former club Hearts what he's capable of when the sides meet at Tynecastle on Wednesday evening. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts interim boss Liam Fox says he does not know if he has any future at the club under the incoming new head coach.

It is expected that Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes will take over at Tynecastle when the season concludes this weekend, with both sides meeting on the final day.

Fox says his sole concentration is on preparing the team for the final home game of the season on Wednesday night against St Johnstone and everything else is beyond his control.

"Things can happen really, really quickly in football," he said. "What I can say is I've really enjoyed the last couple of weeks. The players have been really good.

"I'm not naive, I'm not silly. I understand when a new manager comes in, there's various different things that can come with that.

"What I can say is I think I can add value to anybody. But what I'll also say is football's all about opportunities.

"I feel like I've tried to do the job how I would do it if it was my job. I've tried to be up front and honest. Hopefully we've seen a wee bit of a change in the style."

Fox was appointed interim charge back in October when the club sacked Steven Naismith and once again when they dispensed with Neil Critchley last month.

And the former Dundee United boss admits that this season cannot be described as anything other than being a massive disappointment.

"We know we've not been good enough. We accept that. Moving forward, there will be loads and loads of changes," he adds.

"Hopefully there will be positivity and expectation next year again. That's the demand of this football club."

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Midfielder Jorge Grant and winger Barrie McKay will both leave Hearts at the end of the season when their contracts expire, the Tynecastle club have announced.

One-time Scotland international McKay joined Hearts on a free transfer in 2021 after leaving Swansea City.

The former Rangers and Nottingham Forest man has struggled for minutes this season, making just three starts in all competitions.

Grant has played a more influential role in a disappointing campaign, finding the net three times in 40 appearances.

The Englishman has scored 10 goals in 112 appearances in total since signing from Peterborough United in 2022.

Hearts say the first-team squad will form a guard of honour for their departing teammates after Wednesday's Premiership match against St Johnstone.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

While 'McInnes Mania' has absorbed all of Scottish football's attention over the past few days, one man that has been forgotten about is interim head coach Liam Fox.

Now, I'm not saying he should be offered the role on a permanent basis like Steven Naismith was two years ago, but he deserves more credit for picking up the pieces on a couple of occasions this season.

Fox has gone on two rescue missions; the first back in late September, to arrest the slide which saw us in 11th place in the league - above Hibs - following our worst ever league start on record.

The latest task was to take control of a side who had seen both European and Scottish Cup dreams dissolve into the ether and were nervously looking over their shoulder at a relegation play-off following five matches without a win.

The boyhood Jambo wasn't presented any opportunity to earn glory or go into the history books as one of the heroes, instead he was told to keep us out of them.

Whether Fox will be in charge for the remainder of the season remains to be seen, but he certainly can hold his head high following his latest stint that has seen us pick up two wins from two.

It's an intriguing prospect having Derek McInnes as the main man at Tynecastle, but one thing for certain is he wouldn't be wheeling and dealing on his own.

Much has been said about whether McInnes would like to work in such a set-up, but the question is: has he ever been offered the opportunity before to do so?

I know he previously turned down Sunderland and Rangers while at Aberdeen, but both those clubs had their own travails at the time and results afterwards proved that to be correct.

Given where McInnes' stock is right now, is there a bigger job than the Hearts one that will come knocking at his door? This season hasn't been his greatest at Kilmarnock, but I'm not concerned with that when it's compared to his previous experience.

I'm not old enough to remember Jim Jefferies joining Hearts from Falkirk, but I'm assured by older Jambos that this has a similar feeling to it.

I'm hoping the St Johnstone game on Wednesday takes care of itself - which would mean we potentially relegate one of McInnes' former clubs at Tynecastle - and the McInnes media circus can start to pack up when we take on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

I, like every other Jambo, will be glad when the final whistle blows on Sunday afternoon for the final time in the 2024-2025 season and hope that our new manager will be making plans that evening for how to bounce back in the new campaign after the summer.