Why McInnes thinks 'huge underdogs' Hearts will get stronger

Derek McInnes believes his Hearts team can get even better Hearts head coach Derek McInnes believes his side "will get stronger" for the Scottish Premiership run-in after victory over Dundee ensured the leaders will go into the international break still top of the pile. Oisin McEntee's header secured victory and a fourth consecutive 1-0 home league win for McInnes' side, while welcoming back captain Lawrence Shankland and key midfielder Cammy Devlin for the first time since January. Celtic had moved four points closer to Hearts with those two players absent, with Rangers also narrowing the gap.

But having done enough to ensure they move into April leading the way McInnes believes returning players strengthen his hand for the final seven games. "I actually think the belief that I've got in the team is even more than it's ever been, because I know what's coming behind it," McInnes said. "I've got [Tomas] Magnusson, [Harry] Milne and [Craig] Halkett back, and I should have [Stuart] Findlay and [Stephen] Kingsley back.

"I've got my captain back now for another couple of weeks training, I've got Cammy Devlin back, I've got Beni Baningime back. We will get stronger, and we're going to need that strength. "We've been tested of late but despite all that, we're going to be top of the league in April.

"We're huge underdogs, but for us still to be where we are, churning out victories, as we did again, there's a lot to be said for 1-0 victories. " Before McEntee's winner the biggest cheer of the day at Tynecastle was for Shankland coming on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Pierre Landry Kabore. Despite missing six weeks, he is Hearts' second-top scorer in the league this season with 11 and though he did not add to that against Dundee, his influence was clear.