Morgaro Gomis is expected to fly in to Edinburgh today and walk straight into Hearts’ starting line-up for tomorrow afternoon’s match against league leaders Aberdeen.

The midfielder missed last weekend’s defeat up at Inverness due to the death of his father but, after spending time with his family, the capital club hope to have their key man back in the ranks as they attempt to prevent the Pittodrie club recording their first win at Tynecastle since 2010.

Hearts have an enviable record against Sunday’s opponents, losing just three of their last 25 games against the north east side, but buoyed by burgeoning title aspirations and a recent victory over defending champions Celtic, Prince Buaben acknowledges the threat posed by the current Aberdeen team.

“On Sunday we are just going to give it our best, but if we don’t get the right result then it is not the end of the world,” said the Ghanaian midfielder.

Impressed by the potential of youngster Sean McKirdy, who made his Premiership starting debut in Gomis’ absence last weekend, he will nonetheless be happy to welcome back his more regular midfield colleague for such a big match.

“Whoever plays beside me, I will try to work with them, but I have played with Morgaro for five or six seasons, so I know him very well,” said Buaben.

“With the other players, I have only played with them for one season. When I play with Morgaro, we understand each other very well and there is not much I need to say.

“I see him as a brother, he is a good friend. He covers so much ground – I noted that [when he was absent] on Friday! He is a hard-working man and works for the team. We miss him a lot.”

A player whose contribution is noted more by those he plays with than those who simply watch the game as a whole, Gomis’ ability to help set the tempo and exert control on a match was missed in the Highlands. But Buaben says he and the rest of the squad understood Gomis’ need to be with his family at the time of bereavement.

“I have spoken to him this week but I know that this is a very difficult time for him, so I have given him space,” he said.

“Morgaro is a hard-working, determined man, but this is a hard thing to talk about. All I can do is encourage him to stay strong. We are all with him as a team. Everyone has sent him a text and told him to stay strong, but the best thing is for Morgaro to be with his family for a few days.”

Separating the personal from the professional, they would be glad to welcome him back into the starting line-up tomorrow, though.

“It is the same with any good friend, when he is not alongside you, you miss him a lot. But we have guys that can play if Morgaro is not available,” added Buaben.