Pressley set to lift Hearts

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS skipper Steven Pressley was due to hand boss Craig Levein a timely boost ahead of the Tynecastle showdown with Rangers by returning to training today.

The Scotland star has been battling to recover from the stomach bug which ruled him out of last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock.

He trained on his own yesterday but was expected to rejoin the rest of the first-team squad today in a bid to prove his fitness for the visit of the Glasgow giants.

"Elvis didn’t feel well enough to take a full part yesterday but he needs to do something today, if only to see if there is any reaction," said Levein. "It will depend if he feels strong enough to get through 90 minutes but at least we have another 24 hours to see how he is. Ultimately I will probably leave it up to him to decide."

With Paul Hartley having recovered from his groin injury and Patrick Kisnorbo free of suspension, Levein will have some options in the midfield tomorrow as he looks to stretch the Jambos’ unbeaten league run to eight matches against Alex McLeish’s outfit.

"We have been doing okay in recent weeks and have been managing to pick up points despite fielding under-strength sides in games which I feel is the sign of a good team," said the Gorgie chief.

"Hopefully Elvis will be okay, Paul Hartley is back tomorrow and Patrick Kisnorbo is available again after suspension which is good news.

"I am hoping Mark de Vries will restart training within the next couple of weeks and with Scott Severin improving, with a bit of luck we will have most of our first-team players back for the league run-in.

"Firstly, though, we have to focus on Rangers tomorrow and it will be a very difficult game for us.

"I don’t know if there is ever a good time to play them and after their defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Cup at the weekend the pressure could well be off them to a certain extent. They may be more relaxed and by the sounds of it there will be a huge clamour for places for next season judging by reports, so their players will be up for it.

"We are hoping for a decent crowd and there is always a good atmosphere at these matches."

Taken from the Scotsman