Mahe is locked in race against time

HEARTS defender Stephane Mahe faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s league clash with Kilmarnock having been unable to train this week after being injured against Rangers.

The ex-Celtic star was able to complete the match last weekend despite sustaining a thigh knock, but has since been receiving treatment at Tynecastle. Boss Craig Levein had been hoping the Frenchman could return to training today, but although the problem has eased, Mahe is set to wait until tomorrow to test himself ahead of the trip to Ayrshire.

Levein is still hopeful the 33-year-old will make the clash with vital league points at stake as the Jambos look to secure a place in the top six of the table with the split just five weeks away.

"Stephane took a sore one and hasn’t been able to train this week," Levein said.

"He has been in to see the physio every day and we’ll continue to monitor him. He probably won’t train until tomorrow now. He is an important player for us and we’ll give him every chance of making the Killie game."

Levein, meanwhile, confirmed that loan star Ricardo Fuller has undergone a medical, although the Hearts boss insisted this did not mean a deal was imminent.

"It was just a case of us doing this in case something happens with Ricardo," he said, "but it does not mean we are any further forward. He’s had a problem with his back and we just want to make sure everything is okay."

Gary McSwegan, meanwhile, impressed in a reserve outing for Luton Town as he bids to secure a move away from Tynecastle.

The striker grabbed two goals and set up another three in a 5-1 victory over Norwich City’s second string. Kenilworth Road boss Joe Kinnear is on the look-out for a new front man to boost his attacking options and McSwegan, who recently failed to win a move to Barnsley, could fit the bill.

Taken from the Scotsman