Leaders Hearts can stretch their advantage over Celtic to nine points with a home win on Sunday and despite two huge injury blows this week McInnes is bullish.
(Image: PA)
Derek McInnes says Hearts are racing against the clock to have Rogers Mato registered for Sunday’s top of the table showdown with Celtic.
The Jambos boss insists the rapid Ugandan forward will add goal threat to his side in the absence of crocked skipper Lawrence Shankland.
The loss of top scorer Shankland and midfield general Cammy Devlin both for up to eight weeks was a hammer blow to the league leaders heading into the business end of the season.
But McInnes insists nobody inside Tynecastle is feeling sorry for themselves ahead of a game where they could stretch their lead over the Hoops to nine points.
Hearts are awaiting clearance and a visa for Mato – who has netted 12 times in 13 outings for FK Vardar this season – to join up after striking a deal with the Macedonians.
And McInnes said: “I think it’s going to be tight. The club have done well to negotiate and broker in the fact that he’s coming for this window. This gives us a huge lift.
“Obviously there’s a huge emphasis on the game on Sunday and we’d all like to have as many options as possible to be honest.
“Getting Rogers over would be brilliant but I’m planning for without him at the minute unless somebody tells me definitively he’s going to be here.
“When you watch Rogers, the biggest thing is pace and confidence. He can play across the front line. He’s got a goal threat in him.
“He’s still only young which is a pattern with a lot of the signings we make. But I think what you’ll get is a boy who’s confident in his own ability and that real raw pace. I still think we lack a bit of that pace in certain areas of the pitch.”
McInnes is also pushing to add another signing to his squad ahead of the Sunday crunch although a bid for Forest Green Rovers captain Laurent Mendy has been turned down by the National League club.
He added: “We are looking at a few things and we have different options. We will see what lands for us and ideally we could get someone for the weekend.”
Hearts will also be without suspended Beni Baningime for the top of the table crunch with the Hoops. But McInnes is adamant his side will be ready for the Hoops despite the absence of three key men – and has urged the fans to be the same.
He said: “It’s important that we take the challenge on.
“I’m not going to sit and feel sorry for myself – it’s important that we just rub our hands and get on with it. These things are sent to try you.
“I get there will be a lot of people doom and gloom and Celtic maybe getting us at a good time because of that.
“But don’t be like that, we’ve got so much going for us. There’s nobody in the building feeling that.
“Certainly I can’t have anybody from a Hearts persuasion feeling that on Sunday – on the park and off the park.
“I need total belief in what we’re doing. That trust has clearly been there this season, we need that to continue.
“Some times are a bit more challenging than others, but we’ll be ready for the game on Sunday. The intention is to go and win the game.”
The absence of the injured trio has opened up opportunities for fringe men to stake a claim for more regular football.
James Wilson, Elton Kabangu, Claudio Braga and Pierre Landry Kabore could be pushed through the middle in place of Shankland.
And while it’s too early for record signing Ageu to play any part, the same goes for the midfield where McInnes has a selection decision to make.
He said: “I get the whole thing about Lawrence and Cammy. They’re two long term injuries. We’ve also got a few injuries at the minute which causes a wee bit of concern.
“When you know you’re without two players who have had a big part, it’s nearly impossible to get like for like. There’s not another Lawrence. I’ve always felt that if you can’t bring somebody better than what you’ve got, somebody has to bring something a bit different.
“Having Wilson, Kabangu, Braga, Kabore.. these are all options for us.
“Some can lead the line better on their own than others, but they can all play with a partner.
“It’s not as if we’re short of options. We just need to hope that whatever option we turn to, particularly for Sunday, it gives us that goal threat and that ability to get us up the pitch.”
There’s a big decision facing the Tynecastle boss in goal too. But this time it’s for positive reasons with Alexander Schwolow and Craig Gordon both vying for the nod.
Gordon excelled in the two games he was called upon to deputise for Schwolow after the German’s red card against Dundee.
But Schwolow returned in the cup defeat to Falkirk on Saturday.
And McInnes said: “It’s not difficult at all. I think it’s brilliant.
“It’s a tough decision in that sense, but I’ve got two very capable goalkeepers, experienced goalkeepers. Even Ryan Fulton, the last couple of weeks, has been outstanding in his training. I’m very fortunate I’ve got good ones to choose from.
“I’d rather have the tough decision of good options. As I’ve been a manager sometimes, you’re thinking, who am I going to play?
“Sometimes in goalkeepers, it’s such a key position, so I think both lads have been great for us in recent weeks.”