Hearts midfielder Marcel Langer banned for Rangers Scottish Cup tie

Hearts midfielder Marcel Langer is still serving a ban for his red card against Celtic

Hearts will again be without midfielder Marcel Langer for Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against Rangers. He is to serve the second of a two-game suspension this weekend after last Friday's league match with St Mirren was postponed.

Langer received a red card in the dying minutes of Hearts' 5-0 league defeat by Celtic on February 12. That triggered an automatic ban for the club's next two first-team matches.

He sat out the 2-2 draw with Hamilton at Tynecastle Park three days later and would have completed his punishment had the St MIrren game not been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

That means Langer's suspension carries over into the Scottish Cup quarter-final. The Scottish Football Association have confirmed that he is ineligible for the tie, which kicks off at 5.30pm on Saturday.

The 23-year-old German joined Hearts from Schalke 04's reserve side on the last day of the January transfer window and has made three appearances so far.

The Edinburgh club are also waiting to learn whether striker Liam Boyce and midfielder Toby Sibbick will be available after illness.

They may decide not to risk one or both players with important league games to come in the fight against relegation - including an Edinburgh derby against Hibs three days after the Rangers cup tie.