Hearts: Scottish Premiership leaders lose Stuart Findlay and Aggio

Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts will be without key defender Stuart Findlay for six weeks while record holder Eduardo Aggio will miss the rest of the season.

Head coach Derek McInnes also confirmed that goalkeeper Craig Gordon’s shoulder injury could rule him out of Scotland’s friendlies in March against Japan and Ivory Coast.

Findlay, 30, had been a central figure for the league leaders after starting all 28 Premier League matches in central defence, but was forced off in the win over Falkirk with a hamstring injury.

Brazilian midfielder Aggio made his first start in his first season due to injury against Rangers at Ibrox, but was substituted and will now be sidelined until next season as he needs hip surgery.

Gordon has also played limited minutes for Hearts this season, but is one of Scotland’s key players as they prepare for their first World Cup finals since 1998.

Penny Banningim, Oisin McEntee and Sabah Kerjota are also suffering from knocks but still have a chance to play against Aberdeen on Saturday.

McInnis says he hopes Findlay and captain Lawrence Shankland, who has been out since January 17 with a hamstring injury, will return for the final game before the split against Motherwell on April 11.

Hearts are four points behind Rangers at the top of the Premier League.

More to follow.