Gary Mackay: Mentality of key Hearts players vital in league run-in

Steven Naismith and Craig Halkett need to step up and be counted during the league run-in, says Gary Mackay

We can talk about other teams and look at their fixtures but Hearts have four key matches before the Premiership splits in two in April.

There are really competitive away matches, starting on Wednesday at St Mirren. We also travel to Livingston and Aberdeen, with a home game against Ross County sandwiched in between.

What kind of points tally do we need to look at as a club to galvanise everybody for the post-split matches?

That’s down to the mentality of everybody within the club, probably led by Steven Naismith, Liam Boyce, Michael Smith and Craig Halkett.

Those four are massively important over the next few weeks.

If we are in the same position as now heading into the split, it wouldn’t be too bad. The away support would rise even more after the break because fans would be desperate to do everything they could on top of the backing the team gets at Tynecastle.

The next four games are tough and that has to be the main focus for the moment. Aberdeen and Livingston away from home are both difficult.

Livi do very well at home and Hearts don’t have a good recent record at Pittodrie.

Hearts need points from St Mirren and Ross County games

You can’t prioritise because you need points from every game, but St Mirren on Wednesday and Ross County at home a week on Saturday are massive.

Hearts need to take points in both of those, then the situation should look a bit healthier you would hope.

I feel for the players right now given all their efforts against Rangers, Hibs and Motherwell in a short space of time. Now they are being asked to go again at St Mirren.

They have given everything you could ask for and that’s why the team has managed two victories and a draw in their last three outings. That’s the kind of run of results we need every three games.

It certainly isn’t easy because other teams are fighting for European places and top six spots. Look at St Johnstone’s run lately. That’s the kind of thing we need Hearts to replicate between now and the end of the season.