JAMBO KEITH'S INJURY IS A REAL HEART-BREAKER.

Hearts fan Keith Macdonald was destined never to see his team's historic cup win.

The amateur football player twisted his leg badly during a game on Friday night after catching his studs in the turf.

The match had been brought forward a day to avoid clashing with the Scottish Cup Final.

But Keith ended up being taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with a suspected broken leg.

And the 35-year-old, of Trinity, Edinburgh, was ruled out of attending the final.

He was cheered by the fact that at least he could watch the game on televison in the hospital's Ward 4.

But even that didn't go to plan - with just 30 minutes played and with Hearts 1- 0 up, Keith was wheeled off to theatre because his operating time had been brought forward.

He said: "I was watching the game and they took me away 10 minutes before half-time.

"I was hoping to see the whole game but I had to go because you can't hold surgeons up.

"As Hearts lifted the cup I was out for the count under anaesthetic."

To make matters worse, when Keith came round desperate to know the result one of the nursing staff wound him up by pretending Hearts had been beaten.

He said: "One of the nurses was kidding me on that Rangers had beaten us 5- 1 as they did in the last final.

"For a moment I believed her but another girl was quick to put me right."

Keith, who plays sweeper for Lothian side Sticky Buns, also had to let down his daughter Laurie Mae.

The advertising manager with the Royal Bank of Scotland had promised to take the eight- year-old to the game.

But Keith's wife Jacqueline, 33, did make it to the game, leaving her husband behind in hospital.

Jacqueline, a hostess with Hearts FC, said: "There was nothing I could do so I went but the whole day was ruined for me as well."

Keith had four pins and a plate inserted in his leg and ankle and could be off work for up to six weeks.

He added: "I am not too disappointed because I am hoping we will be back in the final next year."

Taken from the Daily Record