McSwegan back for a solo shift

HEARTS striker Gary McSwegan will report back for duty at Tynecastle on Monday after cutting short his loan with English First Division side Barnsley.

The front man’s month-long deal was due to expire after today’s Nationwide League clash away to Nottingham Forest.

But boss Steve Parkin allowed the player to return home after making it clear he would at best earn a place on the bench for this afternoon’s encounter.

Although the Tynecastle star impressed in reserve matches for the Yorkshire side, grabbing four goals in his first loan spell before Christmas, he failed to find the net for the first team in five appearances, albeit mostly as a substitute.

The 31-year-old, who has been frozen out of the Jambos first-team picture by manager Craig Levein, now faces the bleak prospect of once again being forced to train on his own in the Capital.

"Gary is a smashing lad and did everything we asked of him when he was here," said Parkin. "He did well during his spell. However, I just felt he was a bit too similar to a couple of strikers at Oakwell."

Taken from the Scotsman