McInnes on McEntee blow, derby showdown & title pressure

Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Hearts begin their post-split fixtures with an Edinburgh derby at Hibs on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from the Tynecastle boss:

• Oisin McEntee will miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury sustained in the win over Motherwell last time out. He joins Tomas Magnusson and Ageu on the sidlelines for the remainder of the campaign.
• McInnes describes the Irishman's absence as a "real blow" but says: "My focus is on the players who are available to us, as harsh as that sounds."
• Craig Gordon is not in training yet but is "doing a bit of handling with the rest of the goalkeepers". Harry Milne is progressing well from a calf problem and could make the weekend's game.
• McInnes believes Hearts have the hardest first post-split fixture but is "proud" of his players' achievements so far and wants them to "finish the job".
• McInnes knows that as well as chasing a European spot, Hibs will be fired up to "put a bit of damage onto us". He adds: "That's fine. but equally, we've got to go there and try and be the quality Hearts team I know we're capable of being and winning a game that we know we can win."
• There is "never a meaningless" Edinburgh derby no matter where the clubs are in the table and Hearts are "well aware of that".
• McInnes says it will be a "big ask" for any club to win all five post-split games, but a good start can provide vital momentum and "confidence that anything is possible".
• The Hearts boss adds: "We go into it a point ahead of everybody else and we're still fighting, we're still believing, we're still swinging. We still feel there's more wins in us and we feel that if we can get enough, then hopefully we get the reward at the end of it."
• On Hearts' defeat at Easter Road earlier in the season - when they three three down before losing 3-2 - McInnes admits they were "murder" in the first half and lost "awful" goals before being the better team after the break.
• McInnes is aware of Versailles midfielder Tom Renaud but wouldn't be drawn on reports Hearts are close but signing the Frenchman.
• With Beni Baningime, Cammy Devlin and all fit and available, McInnes was asked whether they can play together. "I think good players can play with each other," he says. "Obviously, they're all a bit different to each other. It's getting balance in the team, whether it's in the forward areas, whether it's defensively or whether it's midfield. I'm just pleased I've got so many good players to pick from."