THE TEST OF TYNE

Halkett promises fans Hearts have mentality to cope with cup KO and injury blows

- BY CRAIG SWAN

CRAIG HALKETT is adamant Hearts can stand strong in the face of savage adversity.

The Tynecastle team have been smacked by brutal setbacks just days ahead of Sunday's seismic Premiership crunch against Celtic.

Prior to the weekend Scottish Cup clash with Falkirk, news that Aussie inspiration Cammy Devlin is out for six to eight weeks was a bitter blow.

Without their midfield dynamo and arguably Scotland's Player of the Year so far, Derek McInnes' team had their hopes of knockout glory ended in a penalty shoot-out for the second time this term.

If that wasn't awful enough, the sight of Lawrence Shankland hobbling off in extra-time and McInnes admitting "it doesn't look good" in terms of his skipper making the clash with the champs was another kick in the guts.

With Beni Baningime also missing the Celtic game in the first of a two-match league suspension, problems are piling up at the wrong time.

Halkett knows this is going to be a serious test of his team's title mettle, but he says the squad has always been ready and has urged everyone to step up.

It was put to the stopper that it can be as much about character and mentality as it is ability at a pivotal time and he said: "Yeah, it's going to be massive I think.