New injury concerns for Hearts

HEARTS boss Craig Levein has suffered three fresh injury concerns following his side’s Festival Cup triumph over Hibs at Easter Road, writes PAUL KIDDIE.

The Gorgie chief was forced to go into Saturday’s clash without the services of a string of first-team stars as pre-season injuries limited his selection for the inaugural cup meeting, the Jambos coming out on top thanks to Andy Webster’s first-half header.

Now Levein has seen captain Steven Pressley, Austin McCann and Scott Severin join the casualty list, although all three should be available for the SPL opener against Aberdeen at Tynecastle this weekend.

Scotland star Pressley was forced to sit out yesterday’s training session at the club’s open day after picking up a slight calf strain against the Hibees.

Full-back McCann and midfielder Severin also missed training yesterday, both players being hampered by blisters.

"It is nothing major," said Levein, " and I would expect the three of them to be fine for Saturday.

"It is isn’t anything serious but obviously anything that keeps someone out of training means they have to catch up somewhere along the line."

Influential midfielder Phil Stamp has been suffering from the recurrence of the chest infection picked up during the pre-season tour to Belfast but is showing signs of improvement.

Alan Maybury and Paul Hartley are also on the mend and Levein is confident his injury situation will have improved in time for the weekend.

"We would want everyone firing on all the cylinders for the first game of the season.While that is not going to be possible, at least we will have players available," he said.

Taken from the Scotsman