Hearts hero earns scots call-up

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS derby hero Graham Weir was today celebrating a double success after being called up for the Scotland Under-21 training camp in Portugal later this month.

The 18-year-old striker smashed two goals in the space of 60 seconds at the end of stoppage time to snatch a dramatic 4-4 draw against Hibs at Tynecastle yesterday. And a dream day was rounded off by the news that Rainer Bonhof wants to take him to the Algarve as he grooms some of the country’s top young stars for the future.

There was a further boost for Hearts with Paul McMullan also earning a place in the squad, which will be based in Portugal from January 6-14.

The main purpose of the camp is to develop players, currently under 19, who will be eligible to be picked for the 2004-06 European Under-21 Championships.

"We want to help the Scotland scene and the fact we are starting the winter break and don’t have any games means it’s a good time for the guys to go," said boss Craig Levein.

Andy Kirk, meanwhile, today hailed the Jambos’ sensational derby comeback as the ideal wedding present, the Northern Ireland internationalist due to tie the knot in his native Belfast tomorrow.

And the striker, who won his side’s first-half penalty, which was converted by Steven Pressley when he went down under a challenge from Nick Colgan, insists he couldn’t have hoped for a better gift as he prepares to marry fiancee Karen Graham.

The 23-year-old was scheduled to fly home this morning in the company of best man and former Hearts ace Grant Murray - the pair having tried to put the finishing touches to their speeches last night.

And Kirk will be joined in Belfast by many of his team-mates as the squad celebrate his big day.

"I told the boys before the game that I wanted a result so we could go and enjoy ourselves at my wedding and it ended up being a decent day," he said.

"Obviously I’d have liked to have beaten Hibs but after the way the game went I’d settle for a point.

"I am looking forward to getting home and seeing the family and with the boys coming over I’m sure we will have quite a party.

"The wedding will top off a great week and the way we got a draw was the ideal present."

He added: "I was sitting there on the bench after being substituted thinking we were going to lose the match and then 60 seconds later it was a feeling of pure elation. It certainly was a special moment."

Levein was full of praise for the way in which his players refused to accept defeat.

"Being 4-2 down with just a couple of minutes left was hardly ideal," he said.

"But the players have shown immense character on numerous occasions this season, especially in the derby matches. And once again they pulled it out for the supporters and it makes me proud to be associated with them."

Taken from the Scotsman