JAMBOS TO STAND TEST OF TYNE...

Craig: Squad up to challenge

- BY CRAIG SWAN

CRAIG HALKETT is sure Hearts can stand strong in the face of fierce adversity.

The Tynecastle team have suddenly been smacked by some brutal setbacks just as next Sunday's seismic Premiership crunch against Celtic approaches.

Before the weekend Scottish Cup exit to Falkirk, news that Australian inspiration Cammy Devlin is out for six to eight weeks delivered a massive blow.

Without their midfield dynamo and arguably Scotland's player of the season so far, Derek McInnes' team had their hopes of knockout glory ended in a penalty shootout for the second time this term.

If that wasn't 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 showdown with the champions was another kick in the teeth.

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

Halkett knows this is now going to be a serious test of his table-topping team's title mettle, but he reckons the Jambos squad has always been ready for issues and urged everyone to step up.