JEFF WARNS OF ESTONIAN DANGER MEN.

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Jim Jefferies last night warned Hearts stars they can't afford to take Estonian minnows Lantana lightly in next month's Cup Winners Cup trip into the unknown.

The Tynecastle manager has started his build-up for the trip to the Baltics on August 13 with a weekend spying mission on the little-known side.

And after watching them chalk up a 2-0 league win with two expertly-taken free- kicks, Jefferies is well aware of the dangers that stand between the Scottish Cup holders and the first round proper.

Jefferies was in Estonia on Saturday to see Lantana defeat Lelle 2-0 before taking his side to France for last night's friendly with Metz.

The Hearts boss was impressed by the Estonians, although he insists an in-form Hearts will still be too strong.

He said: "They are a big, strong, physical side, they are certainly no mugs and will try to make life as difficult as possible for Hearts.

"Both their goals were great efforts from set pieces and this is a situation we will have to watch closely.

"The first goal was scored by Maksim Gruznov, a 20-yarder which almost broke the stanchion it was so powerful.

"Andrei Kalimullin hit the second, a 30-yard strike which was low and hard but bobbled a bit before flying into the net.

"But the two players who really impressed me were the midfield pairing of Andrei Borrisov and Oleg Gorgatsov.

"I'm not sure if this is the line-up we will face but these two are clearly useful."

Hearts are buoyant as they continue their domestic and European preparations and Jefferies was clearly pleased to have been able to gauge for himself the strengths and weaknesses of Lantana.

He said: "Like so many nations, football in Estonia is improving all the time.

"This is illustrated by the fact that just recently the Estonian national side defeated the Faroes 5-0 in a European Championship qualifying match. And only the other week Lantana lost a friendly 3-1 to Dynamo Tblisi, although by all accounts it was a decent performance.

"They are a useful, well-organised side. They will be up for it as I'm sure will all the Hearts players."

One man who is fighting to get fit for the tie midfield ace Colin Cameron.

He is awaiting the results of a scan for a pelvic injury, which has troubled him for some time.

Jefferies: "We won't know anything for certain until we get the results."

Meanwhile Hearts have given training facilities to striker Josh Anderson who is back home from America.

The 20-year-old was watched by a number of top teams in the past - including Rangers, Liverpool and Ajax - but opted to concentrate on a sports scholarship in the USA.
COPYRIGHT 1998 Scottish Daily

Taken from the Daily Record