LADBROKES Premiership leaders Hearts have been dealt a double blow after centre half John Souttar and striker Uche Ikpeazu were both ruled out for up to six months.

Tynecastle manager Craig Levein confirmed the pair, who have been integral to the start the capital club have made to the 2018/19 campaign, have been sidelined by injury earlier today.

Souttar and Ikpeazu have both performed well as Levein's men have moved into a five point lead in the league and secured a place in the semi-final of the Betfred Cup this season.

The development is a setback to Hearts ahead of their Premiership meeting with Aberdeen in Edinburgh on Saturday, an away game against Dundee on Tuesday and their cup game against Celtic at Murrayfield on Sunday week.

The news is also a blow to Alex McLeish as he had started Souttar in Scotland's opening two Nations League games against Albania at Hampden and Israel in Haifa.

The defender tore the lining in his hip when he was away with the national team while Ikpeazu needs an operation to solve an issue with his foot. Hearts are already without Christophe Berra.

"John will be five or six months," said Levein. "He landed awkwardly and tore the lining in his hip. While we're on it, Uche will be out for five months as well.

"It's a problem he's had with his foot and we've finally managed to get to the bottom of it. It's very obscure and needs an operation."