Hearts hit by Maybury blow

GRAEME CROSER

HEARTS boss Craig Levein will be without the services of Alan Maybury for the forthcoming clash with Rangers after the defender was hit with a two-match ban.

Maybury was cautioned during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Dunfermline and although he will be free to play when Kilmarnock visit the Capital this weekend he will be forced to sit out the following week’s trip to face the SPL champions and the subsequent meeting with Motherwell.

Andy Webster has already been ruled out of the Rangers game through suspension and with Steven Pressley still recovering from a thigh injury Levein’s selection problems are, even at this early stage, mounting.

An SFA Spokesperson confirmed: "Alan Maybury has gone through the disciplinary points threshold and has therefore picked up a two-game suspension.

"The ban will take effect 14 days from when he picked up the caution so he will be available for selection this weekend."

For now, though, Levein’s priority is the Kilmarnock clash and he has not ruled out the prospect of key players Pressley and Mark de Vries returning against Jim Jefferies’ side.

Scotland internationalist Pressley has missed the Jambos’ last four matches after limping out of last month’s derby victory over Hibs and, as if to highlight the skipper’s massive influence on the side, each of those subsequent games has been lost.

Levein would love to have his captain back to lead the team out against Killie, but is wary of rushing him back too soon and risk losing him for a longer period of time.

Likewise De Vries. The Jambos’ top scorer sat out last Saturday’s defeat to Dunfermline with a hamstring problem and has still not resumed full training.

Levein said: "Ideally, I’d love to have both Steven and Mark back to face Kilmarnock. They are two big players for us, influential figures and we want them to be fit. We’ve not ruled either of them out but it will be towards the end of the week before we have any real idea of whether they will make it."

While doubts remain over Pressley and De Vries, striker Andy Kirk should be back in place after missing the Pars clash with a heel problem. The Northern Ireland striker has netted five goals this season and his presence would help strengthen the attack should the Dutchman fail to make it.

Levein added: "Andy actually trained on Dunfermline’s pitch on Friday and was in a bit of pain.

"He could have played in the game but we decided not to risk him given the surface, which was very hard, and the conditions.

"The extra week’s rest should mean he’s okay for Saturday."

Taken from the Scotsman