Berra in line for first start at Ibrox

GRAEME CROSER

CRAIG LEVEIN today confirmed that teenage defender Christophe Berra could make his first Hearts start against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

The Tynecastle boss has a defensive crisis on his hands as he prepares for the match with skipper Steven Pressley out through injury and Andy Webster and Alan Maybury suspended.

The only other experienced first-team centre-back is Kevin McKenna, but the Canadian comes with the added complication that he may be needed in attack to deputise for targetman Mark de Vries who is also injured.

It all leaves Levein with a massive headache going into the game and he concedes that he is still not entirely sure what he will do.

However, he did admit that Berra - who has impressed in the club’s under-21 side - was in his thoughts.

He said: "We have problems for this game, especially in the central defensive area and Christophe is one of the options I’m considering.

"He’s been doing well and it may be that we have to turn to him.

"Patrick Kisnorbo can play in the middle and there’s Kevin as well but whether he starts the game there or up front I’m not sure.

"With Mark out he would normally be a stick-on to go into attack but I will need to think carefully about that."

Meanwhile, Patrick Kisnorbo has turned down the chance to join up with Australia’s Olympic squad for the qualifying rounds of this summer’s Athens Games to concentrate on establishing himself in the Hearts team.

Kisnorbo had been expected to be out of action for the Jambos for a number of weeks early in the New Year but the 22-year-old has opted to put club ahead of country by ruling himself out of the Socceroos’ Under-23 squad.

His agent, Lou Sticca, explained: "Patrick has always made Australia a priority and is proud of his five full caps, but at this stage he has no option but to decline his call-up.

"He’s yet to fully establish himself at Hearts, even though he has had a solid run of games and is not prepared to be away from his employer for between five to six weeks and forfeit his place in the team."

However, should Australia qualify for the Athens event in the summer Sticca is hopeful that Kisnorbo would still be able to join up with the rest of the squad.

He added: "I urge Frank Farina (Australian national coach) not to punish Patrick by closing the door on him for the Olympics should Australia qualify.

"I am sure there will be others selected by Australia who will face similar situations."

Taken from the Scotsman