Hearts duo to miss All Stars clash

PAUL KIDDIE IN CANADA

PATRICK KISNORBO and Craig Gordon will sit out their second match of Hearts’ pre-season tour to British Columbia when the Jambos take on the Pacific Coast All Stars in Victoria tomorrow morning.

The Gorgie aces have been nursing injuries since the squad touched down in Vancouver on Friday and boss Craig Levein was forced to overlook them for the opening tour game against Canada B, the pair watching from the sidelines at Swangard Stadium as the Tynecastle outfit kicked-off their ten-day trip with a 1-1 draw.

Although given a week’s extra rest by Levein, Kisnorbo reported back for duty from his summer break with a groin injury, while Gordon has aggravated a thigh problem - Tepi Moilanen will continue between the sticks.

The pair will be left kicking their heels as the tour continues on Vancouver Island and there must now be doubts over whether they will be fit enough for consideration for Saturday’s showpiece finale to the International Pacific Soccer Series challenge when FA Cup finalists Millwall provide the opposition.

Levein said: "Craig Gordon still has a slight thigh strain and won’t play while Patrick Kisnorbo has a groin strain, although nothing too serious."

The Hearts boss is awaiting news of an X-ray on Jamie McAllister’s injured hand, the full-back having landed awkwardly in the closing moments of yesterday’s draw in Burnaby.

There were fears he had suffered a fracture in the tumble and he has undergone a hospital scan.

The former Livingston wing back will miss out against the All Stars, Levein revealing he hadn’t intended to play him for two matches running.

"Jamie won’t play but that was the plan anyway," he said. "His hand was feeling better the day after the game which was encouraging and hopefully he’ll be okay for Millwall on Saturday."

New signing Ramon Pereira, who came on as a substitute in the second half against the Canadians, has a slight problem with one of his shins and is unlikely to start.

Levein, meanwhile, has been forced to curtail his squad’s training schedule due to the baking temperatures in Vancouver.

The first half of the opening tour game was played in 80-plus degrees, with the mercury soaring even higher yesterday.

That meant bad news for the jet-lagged Jambos, who took things a bit easier on the training ground ahead of their second game.

"The Canada match was hard work for them and it has been roasting here since," added Levein. "We have therefore cut back the training a bit, although we are still doing a fair amount."

Taken from the Scotsman