Liam Boyce admits he doesn't know what the future holds as he opened up on what has been a "difficult" season for him at Hearts.

The 33-year-old has been used sparingly this term but has started to feature more prominently in the past fortnight, notably making his third successive league start in Sunday's 1-0 win over Dundee United.

Hearts are still wedged in a relegation scrap, sitting second from bottom in the Scottish Premiership but they are starting to show some positive signs. Sunday's victory was their third in five games, with Neil Critchley's side suffering just one defeat in that run.

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Former Cliftonville striker Boyce - who comes out of contract this summer - wants to play a bigger role in the club's survival bid this season.

“I just want to play football. I train, try and stay ready. It's difficult, I think I should be playing," he told the Edinburgh News in a recent interview.

"Every player does. It’s not my decision. All I can do is stay ready and, when I get a chance, I need to take it."

He added: “It's been really tough. I want to help my team-mates. When you don't get the chance to, it is hard to take. It is sort of different when you have been injured a long time you can't play.

"When you are fit and have missed that amount of time and you feel like you can play and help, then you don't get the chance, it's hard to take. That's behind me, I played a game (vs Ross County) and happy, not with the result but how I performed. I'll just seen what happens next week. I'll train and just stay ready."

Boyce candidly admits he doesn't expect to be offered a new contract at Hearts, which leaves him open to offers ahead of next season.

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He has been tentatively linked with a return to Cliftonville, the club he helped win back-to-back Irish Premiership titles in 2013 and '14.

“I haven't been told anything. I think it is in January you can sign elsewhere,” he added.

“I haven't spoken to the gaffer, nothing has been said. I'll just keep training, see what comes along and, if it is good for me and my family, I'll decide then.”

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