Neil Critchley admits Cammy Devlin’s delayed concussion is “not good” as the Hearts midfielder gets set to miss a huge week in the race for the top six.
The Australia international is still experiencing headaches 15 days after suffering a blow in the Scottish Cup win over St Mirren and has been ruled out of Wednesday’s visit of the Buddies to Tynecastle.
Devlin is now a huge doubt for Sunday’s Edinburgh derby at Easter Road. But Critchley insists the 26-year-old’s health is all that matters. He said: “Cammy won’t make it unfortunately. He’s still not right, which is not good for Cammy. I spoke to him this morning and he’s still feeling the effects of the collision that he had, which is not good.
“We’re not going to take any chances on his health and his wellbeing. That is the most important thing. It’s frustrating for him and us, but I say we just have to give him the time that he needs.
“It’s headaches, that’s it. He’s been out and trained and he’s trained a day or two and he’s just not been right since. So obviously we have to take a step back, keep assessing him, keep monitoring him and then hopefully again start to build up.
“But at the moment he’s just had a few days where he’s not been doing anything and we have to keep looking after him.“You just can’t take any chances. Concussion can be a five day protocol and be back and then sometimes it can take longer.
“Delayed concussion is one of those delicate areas that you can’t take any chances with. It is what it is. He’s been in, he’s been assessed by our doctor and our medical team and we have to take it day by day. If we think that’s necessary then yes, of course we have that option to go down that route.
“But again at the moment we just have to take it day by day. He was in, I spoke to him today and he’s frustrated obviously because some days he’ll feel fine and then the next day he won’t feel as good. So at the moment we just keep going day by day and let’s see where he gets to.
Critchley refused to rule the combative midfielder out of Sunday’s massive derby in Leith. But he won’t risk him unless 100 per cent sure Devlin is okay. He said: “No, he’s not ruled out right now but he’s not ruled in either.
“It can be after 48 hours if there’s no symptoms then he can build back up and we just go straight through the protocol and he could be fine.
“Everything would have to go right between now and then for him to be available. He’ll be desperate to be involved, I know he is, he said that to me today. But I say at the moment there’s no way we’ll take any chances on this situation.”