PREPARATIONS FOR HEARTS GET UNDERWAY

After the free weekend, the players today began their build up to the next SPL fixture – a trip to Tynecastle on Saturday to meet Hearts.

That preparation began with a training session this morning in which the manager Derek McInnes was pleased to include Murray Davidson and Stuart McCaffrey both of whom have been nursing knocks and were anticipated not to be training until later in the week.

Kenny Deuchar and Graham Gartland are continuing to get treatment on their injuries and neither has been ruled out of contention for Saturday.

Saints have a closed door game fixed up for tomorrow to get some game time into a number of players.

Derek told the Saints Official Website this afternoon, “It was a bonus to have Murray and Caff involved today as we thought it might be later in the week before they were able to train and both seem to have come through it okay.

“Graham and Kenny are expected to train on Thursday and Friday and I would hope both can be included in my plans for Tynecastle.

“Steven Milne is getting the last of the planned injections on his injured ankle and as he benefitted from the previous ones I would hope that this will bring him on further”.

That leaves only striker Andy Jackson and goalkeeper Euan McLean as definite non-starters at the weekend.

Young striker Stephen Reynolds tied up a 28 day emergency loan to Ayr United late on Friday evening and was included in the Somerset Park side’s squad for their match against Ross County on Saturday, coming on for the final 30 minutes.

Stephen has been a consistent scorer at Under 17 and Under 19 level in recent times and has regularly been on the bench for the first team this season. However, when Ayr manager Brian Reid came calling, Derek McInnes decided it was the right time to let Reynolds go out for a month.

“I’ve seen Stephen plenty of times in closed door games and in some Under 19 games and I hold him in high regard but I came to the conclusion that it is detrimental to have him sitting on the first team bench without being called upon and that he really needs some match action under his belt.

“Brian Reid had taken the trouble to have him watched on a few occasions and I’m sure Stephen will come back hungry and more confident if he gets some first team action.”

Saints fans are reminded that the game at Tynecastle on Saturday has a 12.30pm kick-off due to the autumn rugby international taking place at Murrayfield later in the afternoon. Tickets are required for the Hearts game and are currently available from the McDiarmid Park Ticket office between 9.30am and 5pm.

Finally, Friday’s Under 19 game against Falkirk ended in a 0-0 draw.

PHOTO: Stuart McCaffrey and Graham Gartland will both train this week in a bid to be available for Saturday's trip to Tynecastle.