Levein to make late decision

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today revealed he will make a last-minute decision on whether star striker Mark de Vries starts against Rangers on Sunday.

The visit of the Glasgow side will see the giant Dutchman make his first league appearance of the season, although Levein will think carefully over whether the 29-year-old plays the whole game.

With the first leg of the Jambos’ UEFA Cup clash with Braga on Thursday also uppermost in his thoughts, the Hearts boss has some careful thinking to do over his line-up for the weekend as the Gorgie outfit look to bounce back from the defeat to Motherwell a fortnight ago.

"Mark will play at some point on Sunday but I don’t know yet whether he’ll start or not," said Levein. "If I do and he’s doing well it could be difficult to bring him off.

"We obviously have Braga on Thursday and I don’t think he can play the two games. He can play a part of both games, say half of one and all of the other, so I have a bit of thinking to do.

"It’s a difficult situation as any game against Rangers is massive and it would be a great boost for us if we could respond to the Fir Park defeat in significant style.

"I can’t do anything just now other than think about the Rangers game and the best way to win it." He added: "Mark is such an important player for us that I’m more concerned about him playing 90 minutes and not doing himself any more damage. I’ll have a chat with him and see how he feels."

Skipper Steven Pressley, who is struggling to shake off a back injury, is desperate to play and Levein is set to leave the decision to his skipper.

"I need to think carefully about whether or not I should play," said the Scotland star, who was forced to miss the midweek draw with Slovenia at Hampden.

"I trained on Tuesday and was in at Hearts yesterday to work out a bit. I’d love to play against Rangers - but do I play that game and take the risk of pulling up and missing out on all the other really important games?"

Teenager Christophe Berra could get the nod if the 30-year-old misses out.

Jamie McAllister will be available for selection despite being sent off in Tuesday night’s reserve clash against Kilmarnock. The full-back was dismissed after picking up two yellow cards in the 1-0 win at Rugby Park but he will be free to face Rangers on Sunday. He is suspended for the reserves’ clash with the Ibrox side. Neil Janczyk and Graham Weir, disciplined after breaking the club’s code of conduct by golfing 24 hours before last weekend’s Festival Cup clash with Hibs, will also be in the squad.

Taken from the Scotsman