Heart of Midlothian

The Foundation of Hearts fans' group have passed a resolution to amend the organisation's articles of association, which would allow Brighton owner Tony Bloom to purchase shares in the club as talks continue over potential investment of up to £10m. (Edinburgh Evening News)

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay says his "gut" feeling is that captain Lawrence Shankland will run down his contract with the club.

Speaking to the media after the club's AGM, he also admitted he has "no idea" if the Scotland striker will still be at Tynecastle once the January window closes.

Shankland's contract expires at the end of the season and the 29-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation surrounding his future for some time.

"At the end of January? I have no idea," McKinlay said.

"I've spoken ad nauseam about Lawrence for the last four transfer windows and I genuinely am not sure what else you want me to say about it.

"I've put it on record that my gut has always been that he'll run down his contract. Who knows what will happen in January?"

While uncertain about what will occur in January, McKinlay says signing a striker is "the priority".

And he added that "finances are available" to improve head coach Neil Critchley's forward options.

"There's a particular striker we're looking at, but not just one," McKinlay said.

"Often you don't get your first choice. We're looking at a few, all of who have come from Jamestown. Other positions and other things that we do, I think, might depend on what might go out."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay has been speaking to the media after the club's annual general meeting.

Here are the key points:

• The tie-up with Jamestown Analytics will be "game-changing" for the club in terms of their ambitions.

• He says the partnership will help Hearts challenge for the title.

• McKinlay confirms that Tony Bloom has intimated his desire to invest in the club and talks are ongoing.

• He expects Lawrence Shankland to run down his contract but is open to discussions with his representatives.

• A striker is the priority in the January transfer window and finances are available if required.

• Refused to mention the word "relegation".

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Musa Drammeh believes his Hearts career is ready to take off following his disappointment at being left out of the club's European squad for their Conference League matches.

The 22-year-old joined Hearts in the summer as a free agent after his Sevilla deal expired, but was not registered with Uefa for the Tynecastle side's Conference League group stage games by Steven Naismith.

"It's just where he sits within the squad at the moment," Naismith said in September of Drammeh's exclusion. "He hasn't had a lot of first-team football."

"The day Naismith told me this, I didn’t sleep," Drammeh said.

"They sent me a message saying I was not going to be in the squad but I'm going to have more game time [in domestic games]. He told me I had to understand Scottish football.

"But I think the Musa of four months ago and now is not too different. I don't know if I played three months ago if I would have helped score these goals, but I think if you are a footballer, you think you are ready for that.

"It’s been a tough time for me because I haven't played, I didn't make the squads, and for someone who's 22 and comes from Spain to be here alone, that's difficult."

Drammeh scored his first Hearts goal against Celtic recently, and his deflected header earned a point against Aberdeen last time out.

"The last few games have been worth it, worth it very much," he added. "For me, I'm 100% secure, I'm going to be good here.

"The manager told me I had been good for the last month because I was training well, that's why he gave me the chance.

"He tells me, your moment is going to arrive. Keep training, keep training. I keep training and my chance has arrived.

"And to hear the fans sing my name, I have waited for this for five months. I hope this is the beginning for me.

"I said when I first came here I want to be remembered when I leave."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

Hearts have entered December still rooted to the bottom of the league table and the question is, at what point do Jambos concede that we are involved in a relegation battle?

People will argue we've had three tough fixtures including playing the league's top two sides at home sandwiched in between a tough European trip to Cercle Brugge but at what point are supporters of the club supposed to be worried?

There's no doubt that there is quality in this side, and a lot of people in Scottish football media said in the summer that this was the third best squad in the country, so it can be said that a number of the players are underperforming.

We can't talk about drop-offs in form without mentioning Lawrence Shankland. I think some of the flack he took after the Cercle Brugge penalty miss and defeat was way over the top. Still, one goal in 21 games for Hearts this season is worrying and it needs to be addressed.

If I was Neil Critchley, I'd be tempted to take Shankland out of the team for a number of reasons. Firstly, I think he needs to be unburdened with the pressure of expectation.

I also think he is over analysed in terms of his body language and how he communicates on the pitch. When things aren't going well, every little facet is questioned. To be fair, at 1-0 down against Aberdeen, he was the only player I saw with their head held high, encouraging others in a maroon jersey.

The final point is, I think we'd soon come to realise how much Shankland does for us when he's not in the team. The drop-off between him and the rest of our strikers is the biggest disparity in any side in our league. It might perhaps also help ignite a desire in him to show his doubters what he can produce. I remember the last time that happened, was in the 4-3 home defeat to Celtic a couple of seasons ago and he netted a hat-trick from the bench.

This month is going to be tricky, but we've got three out of the next four league games at Tynecastle and we really need to make home advantage count - seven points from nine in those games I reckon, starting with a win against Dundee on Saturday.

Forward Musa Drammeh, 23, feared he had made a mistake joining Hearts after being left out of their Conference League squad. (Record), external

Drammeh feels his Hearts career is ready to flourish. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts have been drawn away to Brechin City in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

The tie will take place on the weekend of 18/19 January.

The Sportscene panel discuss Hearts' injury problems following their 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Hearts' 1-1 draw against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: It all comes down to quality up front, there's not enough of it, the real shining lights in the performance were Musa Drammeh, Cammy Devlin and Craig Halkett, who came on to add leadership to back four. Alan Forrest's lack of commitment when tracking back is woeful. What a difference having Musa up front in terms of pace and real commitment, just need somebody who can finish.

Kevo: They could have felt sorry for themselves, dominating, shifting the entire defence, losing a goal out of nothing, but they didn't. Brave, determined and perseverant. Well done Hearts.

Alan: Obviously the two defensive injuries hampered our chances but we did create enough to win the game. Unfortunately it was the same old story of playing well enough but not winning. This form is not looking to shift any time soon and we are in real danger of relegation on our own merit.

Raymond: No better than when Steven Naismith was the manager. Neil Critchley is the wrong choice for the job and his team selections are difficult to fathom.

Gavin: Musa was a breath of fresh air. Driving forward and never stopped.

Frederick: If we make the top six this season that will be acceptable given the start we've had. I think Kilmarnock and St Mirren would accept the same. We will have to have the luck of the draw in the cup though and bring back our confidence. Let's hope January brings some changes with incoming players and some leaving. We can't seem to be able to handle Europe.

Chris: I'm bemused that Critchley thought we played well. The game had little to no quality. We were fortunate to get a draw, Aberdeen were poor too which helped. We are so weak up front and the individual quality was nowhere to be seen. Lots of endeavour from Musa and Devlin did all the dirty work, man of the match easily.

Hearts ended their run of four defeats with a hard-fought draw against Aberdeen at Tynecastle, but it was not enough to lift them off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

Hearts are two points behind city rivals Hibernian, who occupy second-bottom spot.

What did you make of the game? Did anyone impress you?

What went right, and what went wrong?

Let us know your thoughts., external

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Scotland: "We started the game very well, the better team, on the front foot, created good moments. The two injuries disrupt us and the flow of the game.

"We ended up with a makeshift back four. They score with their first shot. We could feel sorry for ourselves but we showed hunger, desire, passion in the second half. We got the crowd involved and we went for the game.

"The least we deserved was a point.

"Frankie [Kent] has been outstanding, he's played every minute for me so far. He's a leader for us, a great guy in the dressing room. It's his quad, it looks less serious but you never know. We'll have to wait and see.

"If we keep playing like that, it's not difficult. I've only come in in the last seven weeks and I've been really encouraged by our performances. It's just a snapshot of where we are. You have good spells, bad spells. The league won't lie at the end of the season.

"We're not even half way through, we've got plenty of games to play, the league is quite congested. If we keep showing the same commitment, passion, energy, with more quality at times - and a little bit of luck - things will change in our favour.

"I'm used to that [congestion]. Down the road, you play plenty of games in the Championship and League One. That's why you have a squad - and [Craig] Halks and Musa [Drammeh] are great examples that you need to keep training and be ready."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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After Hibernian's surprise 3-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday, there was more pressure on this game than Hearts fans would have hoped for.

While a point against the team in second place isn't a bad outcome, the game had a similar ineluctable feeling to the last few performances - Hearts would show plenty of endeavour but fail to win.

That was not helped by the loss of Kingsley, who was left writhing in agony with a hamstring injury, and Kent, who hobbled off with an apparent knee problem.

With Gerald Taylor already injured, Neil Critchley's defensive options - during a month with eight fixtures - have been hampered further and adds to his headache, meaning he is counting the cost of this potentially pivotal point.

One positive was Musa Drammeh's performance, which drew plaudits and adds real flair to Hearts' currently limited attacking threat.

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Musa Drammeh. The 23-year-old Spaniard has had to wait for his chance at Hearts after his summer move from Sevilla's B side, only making his first start this afternoon.

Being left out of the European squad might now work in his favour, given the heap of games coming up domestically and in the Conference League, as he will continue to be fresher than his teammates.

This afternoon he was unlucky not to score and add to his goal against Celtic last weekend, and showed more than enough to earn a place against Dundee next Saturday.

Celtic have the highest average attendance in the Scottish Premiership this season so far with 59,022, with Rangers next on 47,878, followed by Heart of Midlothian on 18,527 and Aberdeen on 18,194. (Football Scotland), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley has challenged his players to bounce back from their disappointing Conference League loss against Cercle Brugge as they host Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Thursday.

The Dons sit second in the league, but have taken just one point from their last two games - a 2-1 loss against St Mirren and a dramatic 3-3 draw against Hibs.

Critchley's side had chances in Belgium, but Lawrence Shankland's missed penalty proved costly as they eventually fell to a 2-0 defeat.

"They are all important games, they are all big games," Critchley said. "We have been in a run of tough games and Aberdeen is a tough game at home.

"I have said that to the players, we can’t dwell on the game or the defeat.

"You have to dust yourselves down and move on psychologically and physically, because we have to get ready for a tough game on Sunday."

• None of the last 21 Scottish Premiership meetings between Hearts and Aberdeen have been won by the away side (17 home wins, 4 draws), with each of the last 10 in a row being home wins (5 Hearts, 5 Aberdeen).

• After their 3-2 win in October, Aberdeen could earn back-to-back league victories over Hearts for the first time since August 2019. However, the Dons are winless in 11 league visits to Hearts (D3 L8) since a 2-1 triumph in May 2017 under Derek McInnes.

• Hearts have lost their last two home league games, last losing three in a row on home soil in the Scottish Premiership in December 2019 under Daniel Stendel.

• After winning 10 of their first 11 league games this season (D1), Aberdeen have since failed to win their last two (D1 L1). Indeed, the Dons are now without a win in their last three away league outings (D2 L1).

• Only Nicolas Kuhn (11) has more goal involvements in the Scottish Premiership this season than Jamie McGrath (10 - 4 goals, 6 assists), who has scored in both of Aberdeen’s last two league games.

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Midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof is still missing for Hearts with a hamstring issue.

Meanwhile, striker Pape Habib Gueye (quad) is Aberdeen's only absentee.

Lawrence Shankland's chances of joining Rangers appear to have gone amid the Heart of Midlothian striker's barren goals run even though the 29-year-old remains out of contract next summer. (The Herald), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

The initial bounce Hearts enjoyed after the appointment of Neil Critchley has somewhat worn off.

Three wins and only one loss in his opening five games in charge have been followed by four straight defeats and only goal difference keeps the Englishman's side above city rivals Hibernian at the bottom of the league.

But Critchley will be pointing out to his players that two of those reverses have come in the Conference League and the others against the Old Firm.

Again, there was some promise in Thursday's performance against Cercle Brugge, with the Belgians capitalising on Lawrence Shankland's sudden loss of confidence by going on to win 2-0 after the Scotland striker fluffed his chance to equalise from the penalty spot.

Hearts and their captain have no time to feel sorry for themselves as second-top Aberdeen arrive intent on inflicting a fourth consecutive home defeat on the Edinburgh side.

The Dons themselves have suffered their first blips since the summer arrival of Jimmy Thelin from Elfsborg.

Having won 12 or their first 13 games under the Swede, they have now only recorded one victory in four - and have gone four trips away from Pittodrie without a win after Hibs' late equaliser in Tuesday's six-goal thriller at Easter Road.

Shankland will be hoping the Dons defence proves similarly porous on Sunday as the 29-year-old, who found the net 33 times last season, looks to end an 11-game barren spell since his only goal this season.

Hearts may need it if they are to inflict Aberdeen's sixth successive defeat at Tynecastle - or at least extend their 12-game unbeaten run there against the Dons since a 2-1 loss in May 2017.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

We asked for your views on misfiring striker Lawrence Shankland and Hearts' 2-0 defeat away to Cercle Brugge in the Conference League.

Here's what some of you said:

George: Shankland lacks confidence despite playing well in other aspects of his game but that confidence factor is also affecting the rest of the team.

David G: Given time I believe Neil Critchley's attacking philosophy will come good but this means the right recruitment in strikers and players with pace up front. Our current inability in front of goal is shocking and at the other end our lapses in concentration are woeful. Shankland has to be dropped and the weight of the captaincy taken away.

Scott: Just bad luck really, if you watch the replay of the penalty, it should have been retaken as the goalkeeper was way off his line before Shankland strikes the ball. We are just not getting any breaks just now, but the players need to hang in there. So many out of contract players is a problem though, hopefully we see some movement in January window.

Steven: Easy to have a pop at Shankland but he is the reason we are playing European football. We have to stick with him, there is no other option. The games through December are too big, too much pressure to throw in the young strikers. Letting Kyosuke Tagawa go looks now to be a massive error by the club.

David T: This was like watching a Sunday amateur league game, both teams were poor, riddled with stray passes all night. As for the penalty I blame the manager for letting Shankland take it, he is low in confidence.

David M: This game is symptomatic of practically all games this season. Hearts are not scoring goals. The new coach knows this yet still perseveres with the same players. Nothing has changed from the previous coaching staff. Just waiting for your main striker to find some form is not a solution.

Kieran: Shankland doesn't want to be at Hearts. As supporters, we backed him even with his lack of commitment to the club. I don't know why he's captain, especially with Gordon back in the team. He's not a leader, it looks like he's not interested the majority of the time. Cut the losses, sell him in January once we have another striker.