Hearts duo set to miss crunch

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS’ first SPL win over Livingston at Almondvale looks to have come at a cost with both Mark de Vries and Paul Hartley almost certainly ruled out of Saturday’s Euro showdown with Dunfermline.

Both players were injured in last night’s 3-2 victory over the Lions, which carried the Jambos nine points clear of nearest rivals Dunfermline, and are in danger of missing the trip to East End Park this weekend.

With Phil Stamp also still struggling with a knee problem, Levein does not have his worries to seek ahead of the Fife clash as Hearts look to storm 12 points clear in the race for a UEFA Cup spot.

"It was a good win for us last night but the injuries are my main concern at the moment," he said.

"Mark de Vries and Paul Hartley both had to come off during the match and have to be rated as very doubtful for the weekend.

"I don’t know the full extent of the injuries at the moment and it may be tomorrow before that is the case when they have settled down.

"Phil Stamp’s knee is still not right and I’d rather not have used him last night at all but I thought I might need him and so it proved, although my hand was forced a bit with the injury to Paul in the first half.

"With Scott Severin and Steven Boyack still out and Gary Wales, Jean-Louis Valois and Paul McMullan away from the club, things are looking a bit more difficult as far as options are concerned."Austin McCann, meanwhile, has flown to Spain to train for a week with the New Jersey-based Metrostars. The full-back has fallen out of the first-team picture at Tynecastle and Levein has allowed him to team up with the Major League Soccer team in a bid to win a move to the States next season.

McCann will return to Hearts on Friday with a view to being considered for Saturday’s squad.

Taken from the Scotsman