Marc Leonard's season appears to be over after the Scottish midfielder suffered a worrying injury for title-chasing Hearts. The Birmingham City man couldn't complete his 13th start for loan club Hearts on Saturday as they drew 1-1 with Motherwell at Fir Park.
Hearts are still on course for their first Scottish Premiership title in 66 years and have a four-point lead on Celtic who take on Old Firm foes Rangers today. But Leonard isn't expected to play any further part in Hearts' title bid after an Achilles injury meant he left the stadium on crutches on Saturday night.
Leonard and teammate Craig Halkett both went down with Achilles issues against Motherwell and both are now set to miss Hearts' final two matches against Falkirk and Celtic. Asked for an update afterwards, Hearts boss Derek McInnes said: "Both Achilles injuries. Both significant time out, I think. Both were leaving on crutches."
"I've had one player in my whole time. Big Marvin Elliott at Bristol City. And I can remember it happening. I've been managing 18 years or so now and I've never had another Achilles injury with a player. That's two in the one game, which is so unusual."
"Obviously, you have to contend with severe injuries. I looked at the boys that turned up tonight in their big jackets, sitting in the stand behind us. What a team that would be. That team would qualify for Europe. The team that was sitting in the stand."
"And then we've got another two. Halkett and Marc. Both have been brilliant this season. Obviously, Marc since January. And Halkett's been a rock for us. But we're going to have to deal with these two games without them."
Leonard is due to return to Blues in the summer for his future to be ironed out. Scottish giants Celtic are the latest club to be linked with the 24-year-old in recent days but Leonard could be set for a period in the treatment room.
