Brazilian Ageu back in town as McInnes heaps praise on Devlin

Hearts' Brazilian midfielder Eduardo Ageu is back at Riccarton this week after medical treatment in Portugal.

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He was assessed by staff at the Portuguese Football Federation having suffered a hamstring tear sidelining him until after New Year.

Portuguese medics spent three weeks with the player before sending him back to Edinburgh and he is now hoping to resume training with Hearts as soon as possible and be back in a maroon shirt at some point in January.

Ague became Hearts' record signing in August following a £1.7 million transfer deal with the Portuguese side Santa Clara. Head coach Derek McInnes is now eager to see what shape the player is in, and when exactly he might return for the Scottish Premiership leaders. “Ageu is back in and we can get eyes on him now, get him tested and get him looked at. We feel he has taken a step forward, but how much we don’t know yet,” McInnes told the Edinburgh News.

The manager provided updates on Hearts' other injured midfielders, Calem Nieuwenhof and Finlay Pollock. They also have hamstring problems, with Nieuwenhof missing since late July and Pollock out since April when injury ended his loan at Raith Rovers prematurely.

“The Hoff was a wee bit under the weather last week, so that delayed his progression a wee bit. He is due back on the grass to do a bit of work this week,” said McInnes. “Finlay Pollock is out running on the grass now with the physios. We are mindful that he is coming from a long way back after his original injury. He is probably six or seven weeks away from full training, so he still has quite a bit to go.”