Hearts loan summary: Colin Doyle big winner with Kilmarnock as four others join league action
The resumption of leagues 1 and 2 of the SPFL allowed several players to gain more precious minutes than those already released in the Premiership and Championship clubs.
Goalkeeper Doyle, on loan to Premiership wrestlers Kilmarnock, helped Tommy Wright’s threatened relegation side win 4-1 over Motherwell – and the goalkeeper blocked Jambos teammate Jordan Roberts in the process.
It’s a key win for Killie in their fight from the fall, but they could still be Hearts ‘replacements at the second tier – and Roberts’ Motherwell team aren’t quite on the sidelines either. The striker was cautioned in the Ayrshire side’s 4-1 win.
Arbroath hosting Robbie Neilson’s side on Saturday meant Lewis Moore was unable to add more time to his loan against parent club, under the terms of his loan deal, but compatriot Craig Wighton played 90 minutes for Dunfermline in their 1-0 loss at East End Park to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and was booked in the process.
Recently, the loan reports ended there, but with the return of SPFL lower league football this weekend, more of Jambos’ youngsters were in action – and happy to be.
Cammy Logan started the Cove Rangers 1-1 draw at Partick Thistle at right-back, before being replaced by compatriot Hearts Export Connor Smith in the second half at Firhill. The draw keeps ex-Jambo Paul Hartley’s side second in Ligue 1 and two points behind leaders Falkirk, who won 2-0 against Harry Cochrane and Montrose.
In Ligue 2, Chris Hamilton was a late substitute in the Stirling Albion defense field in a 1-0 win over Brechin City.
And goalkeeper Harry Stone, who recently joined Albion Rovers last week, won him 90 minutes against Stenhousemuir, led by newly appointed captain and former Hearts player Callum Tapping. However, the highly rated goalkeeper was on the wrong side of a 2-0 loss for the Coatbridge side in his third senior start.
In England, Olly Lee recorded 20 minutes as a second-half substitute in Gillingham’s 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers in the League One skybet.
