We can cope without Elvis

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today insisted the team will cope with the loss of skipper Steven Pressley, the Gorgie chief revealing the defender has "no chance" of facing Bordeaux in Thursday’s UEFA Cup showdown.

The 30-year-old limped out of the 2-0 derby triumph over Hibs at Tynecastle yesterday with a thigh injury after being hurt in the first half.

Pressley was due to have the problem assessed properly today, although the initial signs are not looking too good.

Even at this early stage of the week, Levein has ruled out his influential captain for Hearts’ biggest game for years, with the worry being he could be sidelined for a number of matches during a particularly hectic period for the club.

While conceding the injury to Pressley is a blow, the Gorgie chief is confident the team will handle his absence.

Scotland stopper Andy Webster came off the bench to replace his captain midway through the first half of the derby and looked to be back to his assured self alongside Kevin McKenna at the centre of the defence.

The pairing will be the natural choice for Thursday night, although Levein is hopeful that Scott Severin will be fit.

"We threw Andy Webster on once Elvis had to go off and I thought he had a great game," he said.

"Elvis was strapped up and limping and has no chance of facing Bordeaux. But we will cope.

"It is just one of those things that happens in football but we will get by.

"The team is not made up of just one player and to be honest I am not too worried about it.

"We will have 11 players on the park on Thursday determined to get Hearts into the next round of the UEFA Cup and it will now be a case of picking the right team."

Pressley had been toiling with a groin injury over the last few weeks, an injury which had prevented him training properly, while he lost two teeth in a clash with Patrick Kluivert playing for Scotland against Holland in last week’s Euro 2004 play-off.

As he faced up to missing out on the biggest game of his Hearts career, Pressley couldn’t conceal his disappointment.

"It is a real sickener. I felt something as soon as I went into the challenge and knew straight away that I would have to come off.

"I can’t believe this has happened but I’ll just have to get on with things."

Bordeaux, meanwhile, warmed up for Thursday’s clash with a 2-1 home win over Rennes, Jean-Claude Darcheville and Pascal Feindouno on the mark.

Taken from the Scotsman