McInnes not setting targets with Hearts in ‘great position’

Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts are in “a great position” with nine games of the campaign remaining, insists Derek McInnes, although the head coach is predicting “twists and turns” in a tense title race.

Hearts hold a five-point lead over Celtic, with Rangers one point further adrift and Motherwell 10 behind.

The Edinburgh side, who were last champions of Scotland in 1960, bounced back from defeat at Ibrox with successive 1-0 home wins against Falkirk and Aberdeen.

Celtic managed just one victory from three league outings in that time, while the Old Firm draw was Rangers’ second in a row and Motherwell suffered a surprise loss to Dundee.

“We’re enjoying where we are,” said McInnes, whose side have been out in front for 23 weeks.

“I got asked earlier, ‘how many points do you think it will take’? Nobody knows. We can all surmise and we can guess, but nobody would have guessed that Hearts would be where we are after this length of time.

“We’re in a great position. It’s down to the efforts of the players, how well they’ve done. The focus has been great. The last couple of performances have really pleased us in the sense that we’ve got the desired outcome, but the performances have been good as well.”

Hearts travel to Kilmarnock on Saturday evening, with McInnes expecting a tough test against his former club.

“Throughout the season we’ve looked at blocks of games but, for me, it’s just taking each game as it comes now,” he said.

“Every game becomes more important for so many teams and Kilmarnock are fighting tooth and nail to stay in the league.

“I think there’s still a lot of people out there who think it’s maybe a step too far for us as a team and a club, potentially. But we can’t really get caught up in that.

“I’ve said all along, I think we can win enough games to be in the fight. For us, it’s keep doing what we’re doing. The squad looks calm.

“I do believe that every game is going to be tough for all the teams. I don’t think any game is going to be straightforward.

“I do think there will be twists and turns. We’ve just got to try and keep our head above the line and just keep going.”

McInnes will welcome Oisin McEntee back from injury for the trip to Rugby Park and hopes key men Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin will soon join him.

Scotland striker Shankland, who has 15 Hearts goals this season, has been out since 17 January, while Australia midfielder Devlin picked up an ankle knock just a few days before.

The pair are expected to resume “full training” next week.

“Lawrence has been really focused and single-minded,” McInnes said of his captain.

“He’s had to do so much right. So hopefully we can just make those final steps next week.”