Hearts defender Marius Zaliukas faces the prospect of surgery if an injection fails to rectify his troublesome ankle injury.

And team-mate Andrew Driver is awaiting the results of tests on his knee problems after both players visited a specialist on Monday.

Zaliukas, 26, has already been sidelined for almost three months, while winger Driver is expected to be out for four weeks.

Manager Csaba Laszlo told Hearts News: "Marius saw a specialist in London on Monday.

"He got an injection and we hope in two or three weeks he will be better. This is the last thing we can try as, if it doesn't work, he will need an operation.

"We hope that the injection will work and that he will not require surgery.

"The other big problem is Driver, who has a knee problem. He is looking at four weeks out and this is not okay."

Laszlo laughed off rumours he had quit in the wake of Saturday's 2-1 SPL defeat to St Johnstone, which left Hearts just two points off the foot of the table.

The Jambos boss wants talks with the club's board in a bid to convince them to invest in at least one striker during the January transfer window.

Asked whether he feared losing his job if results do not improve, he told the Edinburgh Evening News: "I don't like to talk about this before I have a conversation (with the board).

"I will be thinking about everything but now is not the best time to speak about it.

"If you would like to have successful football, you must have a very clear structure and plan. With this team at the moment we can't be so successful as last season. We have lost too many captains.

"If we can't score goals, we can't think about first or second. Everything is possible but not if you don't win games or score goals.

"I hope that if the club sell players during the winter then we must bring in offensive players."

(reopens) Laszlo later revealed Dawid Kucharski is poised to make his first start since the opening day of the season at Kilmarnock on Saturday.

With Jose Goncalves suspended following his red card against St Johnstone, the Hearts manager is set to turn to the former Poland Under-21 international to plug the gap in central defence.

Laszlo said: "We have injuries and now suspension but now maybe players who haven't played so often have the chance.

"I hope that if Kucharski is there, he can use the chance. This is the possibility for Kilmarnock. I have said everyone will get their chance and this could be an opportunity for him.

Fit-again Calum Elliot could also be in the frame for involvement at Rugby Park, the striker having been in full training for the best part of a week.

"Calum has trained and if nothing happens this week, he will be in the squad for Kilmarnock," Laszlo added.