Hogg wants away from Hearts

IAN PAUL

10 Nov 1992

HEARTS defender Graeme Hogg has surprised manager Joe Jordan by putting in a written transfer request, by Ian Paul.

The 28-year-old who was signed from Portsmouth for £200,000 in August last year has missed the past three games because of domestic suspension but is believed to be unhappy at being left out of the UEFA Cup team in Liege last Wednesday.

Said manager Joe Jordan: "It came as a surprise but I will look at it before making a recommendation to the board."

Hogg has played an important role in the Hearts defence deputising for Craig Levein, Alan McLaren, and Peter Van de Ven, on various occasions.

Hearts will travel to meet Partick Thistle at Firhill tonight with only Gary Mackay, who has a fractured cheekbone, absent from the squad which overcame Hibs at Tynecastle on Saturday.

Jordan does not need reminding how well Thistle have adapted to the premier division.

"We only need to go back to their appearance at Tynecastle in August, when I can honestly say they were unlucky to lose

1-0.

Whatever rub of the green was available we got.

And, from all accounts, they have improved since."

Hearts would reduce their points gap behind Rangers at the top to two if they were to beat Thistle, and Jordan would ask only that they maintain the determination and energy they showed against their city rivals at the weekend.

But Thistle, with a splendid result themselves on Saturday, when they beat Motherwell at Fir Park, could give themselves another lift by overcoming the Edinburgh side and increasing their points total to a remarkable 20, putting them alongside Celtic and Aberdeen.

This may come as a surprise to you and me, but try getting Thistle fans to agree.

Taken from the Herald