Severin facing late fitness test ahead of Bordeaux tie

DARREN JOHNSTONE

HEARTS have been handed a boost ahead of tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup tie against Bordeaux with the news that midfielder Scott Severin returned to training yesterday.

The Scotland international has been struggling with a groin injury and did not feature in the 2-0 win over Edinburgh rivals Hibs on Sunday. However, he came through training and will now be given up until the last minute to prove his fitness.

Hearts will be without captain Steven Pressley for the second-round, second-leg tie after he suffered a thigh strain against Hibs and had to be replaced by Andy Webster. But head coach Craig Levein is hoping to have Severin available.

Levein’s side are eager to secure their passage into the third round of the competition after beating Bordeaux 1-0 in France in the first leg.

Levein said: "Ideally, I would like to have everyone fit for the game and it would be good to get Scott back. He trained on Tuesday but I will just have to wait and see if he suffers any adverse reaction.

"He wanted to see if he could get through training even though it was a wee bit sore."

Meanwhile, Severin’s teammate Phil Stamp took a knock to his cheekbone during Monday night’s 1-1 draw in the under-21 derby against Hibs. However, the former Middlesbrough player, who missed Sunday’s clash through suspension, will be fit to face Bordeaux.

Levein added: "Phil took a knock but he trained on Tuesday. He played a half against Hibs as did Dennis Wyness." Stamp opened the scoring for Hearts under-21s in the first half, but the goal was cancelled out by Tam McManus with three minutes left.

Gary Wales also featured in the under-21 derby, his first game since suffering a serious foot injury. Levein added: "Gary’s not far away, but it is up to him to get as fit as possible as quickly as possible. When you get injured it can be difficult to get back into the team and with the likes of Wyness, Kirk and Weir there has been plenty of competition in attack."

Taken from the Scotsman