Hearts set for 'busy last week' of transfer window

Hearts "could be set for a busy last week of January", according to boss Neil Critchley, despite having already signed four players in the winter window.

Norwegian midfielder Sander Kartum and Austrian defender Michael Steinwender joined this week - adding to the arrivals of Jamie McCarth and Elton Kabangu - and Critchley confirmed he's eyeing further reinforcements.

"Anything can happen in January," the head coach said. "We're still looking, we're still searching. Obviously our squad now, if you looked at the numbers, is slightly top heavy, although some players have also departed in January.

"There might be one or two exits, but that might mean that one or two might arrive as well and it could be a busy last week of January.

"But we're really happy with the work that we've done so far and the players that we've brought in. Jamie, Elton, Michael and Sander, we think they'll contribute and reinforce us and strengthen us for the future."

Critchley could also be boosted by the return of Lawrence Shankland, who has missed the last few games with a calf complaint, for Saturday's visit of Kilmarnock.

"Possibly," the head coach said of a Shankland appearance. "He's done more training this week so that'll be a decision that we have to make on Lawrence and whether we think he's had enough to be in contention for the squad.

"He has been back out on the grass in training. That little break might actually do him the world of good because he played virtually every minute of every game.

"We're hopeful that maybe just refreshed him mentally and physically a little bit. But we also have to make sure he's done enough to be included."