Hearts manager Craig Levein saluted the resilience of Peter Haring after the midfielder gave his team one last effort in their Edinburgh derby win before much-needed medical treatment.
Haring has been playing with a hernia problem for months but with the likes of Steven Naismith, Christophe Berra, Jimmy Dunne, John Souttar and Uche Ikpeazu out for lengthy spells, Hearts delayed surgery.
The Austrian midfielder went down clutching his groin several times during Saturday's Easter Road clash before going off in the 54th minute.
The 25-year-old had done his bit for the team with Hearts leading thanks to Olly Lee's spectacular first-half strike and they held on without him to move seven points above Hibernian in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
And with the arrival of the winter break, Haring can look forward to getting his medical problem fixed after making 26 starts this season.
Levein said: "He's a good player. He has had this problem with his hernia which has just been getting worse and worse. He is scheduled to go in and get an operation as soon as possible.
"He has been filling himself with anti-inflammatories and painkillers and suchlike for the last wee while.
"He's a tough boy, he really is, and he competes really well. This game in Scotland suits him really well because he has the attributes to allow him to win headers and second balls, but also have that composure to be able to pick a pass as well."
Hibernian were without 10 players through injury and international commitments, and head coach Neil Lennon is looking for further reinforcements from outside the club.
Hibs struggled to create chances, apart from long-range efforts, before throwing the ball into the box in the final stages.
Lennon said: "We need to add to our squad, we need some quality in because that's what we are lacking at the minute.
"Some players are not playing anywhere near as well as they can."
