Levein is delighted at chance

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today admitted he would have jumped at the prospect of being able to tie up third spot in the league three games from the end of the campaign had it been offered to him at the start of the season.

The Jambos go into Saturday’s clash against nearest challengers Dunfermline six points clear of their opponents with just three matches remaining, knowing that a solitary point will ensure they finish ‘best of the rest’ for a second successive season.

The Tynecastle side are 17 goals better off than the Fifers meaning that although Jimmy Calderwood’s men could still, mathematically, leapfrog them, it would take a hugely unlikely swing in goal difference for it to happen.

Claiming third place in the SPL for a second season would be a considerable achievement for Levein, who has had to make swathing cuts to his player budget during his time in charge at Tynecastle.

And the Hearts boss revealed he would have been delighted at the start of this campaign to have been told his side would be in the position they are currently.

"Effectively we need just a point from the match at the weekend to clinch third spot and if you had offered me that at the start of the season I would have bitten your hand off.

"Last season we had to go right down to the wire and got the result on the last day so if we could seal it on Saturday that would be great.

"Their result last Sunday [Dunfermline beat Celtic 2-1 at Parkhead] didn’t go our way but we couldn’t influence that and all we can do now is concentrate on our own game. We know we only need a point but we have had too many draws recently so we will be going out to win the match."

Meanwhile, Levein revealed he expects Phil Stamp to be available for the weekend. The midfielder has returned to light training this week after a rib injury picked up in the 1-1 draw with Celtic but Levein is confident he will be fit in time for Dunfermline’s visit.

Striker Andy Kirk, however, looks set to miss out as he has yet to resume training due to the groin injury that kept him out of the win over Dundee United.

Taken from the Scotsman