Hearts conceded seven goals at Celtic Park, and former striker Conor Washington believes the defence is missing Craig Halkett. The centre-back has been out since suffering a ruptured Achilles in the sprint to the Premiership finish line away to Motherwell in the third last game of last season.
Halkett's absence felt in heavy defeat
Washington, who played alongside Halkett during his season at Tynecastle, told Record Sport: "Craig's a big miss for Hearts, especially in a game like that against Celtic. I've always really liked him as a player. He's a proper defender, strong, good in the air and someone who genuinely enjoys defending."
He added: "One thing that always stood out to me was how assured he was. He had a really calm presence about him and was a good leader without needing to shout and scream at everyone. He just set good standards, led by example, and you always felt confident having him alongside you. When you're having a difficult afternoon like Hearts did against Celtic, having someone with that calmness and experience can make a real difference."
Fit for Vrancken's style
Manager Wouter Vrancken takes his team to Fir Park on Sunday amid an injury crisis. Halkett is expected to be fit after the New Year, and Washington dismissed doubts about his suitability to Vrancken's possession-based approach.
"In terms of whether he suits the way Vrancken wants to play, I don't see why not," Washington said. "Craig's comfortable on the ball, he's just not particularly flashy with it. He's not someone who's going to regularly step past players, break lines of pressure by carrying the ball or go on long runs from the back, but that doesn't mean he can't play in a team that wants to build from deep."
He continued: "He's intelligent, understands the game and generally makes good decisions. I think sometimes with playing out from the back, people get a bit too caught up in how technically gifted a defender is, when a lot of it comes down to recognising the right moments to play, when to move the ball on and when you're better off not taking unnecessary risks."
Washington praises James Wilson
Washington also praised James Wilson, who scored in Hearts' derby win at Easter Road earlier this season. "He's clearly a talented young player and the opportunity to go down to Tottenham at his age will have been a brilliant experience for him," he said. "I think the biggest thing he'll have taken from it is seeing the standards and demands of an environment like that every single day."
Reflecting on his own derby goal, Washington said: "I scored there in a derby myself and it's still my favourite goal I ever scored in club football. There's just something about scoring in a game like that, with the rivalry, the atmosphere and how much it means to everyone connected with the club."
Washington, who arrived at Hearts with a reported £3million transfer fee, admitted his time was marred by injury. "My biggest disappointment personally was getting injured and not being able to contribute anywhere near as much as I'd have liked," he said. "Hearts are a massive club with a brilliant fanbase, and I think they should be competing towards the top end of Scottish football. It's great to see them back up there."
