Derek McInnes sees the return of Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland as pivotal for Hearts' title push. The Jambos sit two points clear at the Scottish Premiership summit, with their captain Shankland having netted 15 goals before his January injury and Devlin missing just three minutes of league play. McInnes considers both the league's best striker and midfielder, believing their comeback could spark "a special end to the season" for the club chasing a first top-flight title in 66 years.

During their two-month absence, Hearts dropped points in half of their league games, winning only four of eight matches. Despite this stumble, the Edinburgh club remains unmoved at the league's summit. McInnes acknowledged the "significant blow" losing both players represented, especially with other injuries to Stephen Kingsley, Stuart Findlay, and Beni Baningime further testing their depth ahead of the Dundee fixture on Saturday.

McInnes expressed disappointment but surprise at no Hearts players being selected for Scotland's upcoming World Cup warm matches. The Hearts boss believes key performers like Craig Halkett, Harry Milne, and Marc Leonard have earned international recognition. With eight games remaining and two points clear, Hearts' title challenge remains firmly intact despite facing both Celtic and Rangers down the stretch.