Robertson weighs up injury pros and cons

PAUL KIDDIE

THERE was mixed news on the injury front for Hearts boss John Robertson today as he made his final preparations for tomorrow’s SPL clash against former club Inverness Caley Thistle.

Kevin McKenna is available for selection after shaking off the recurrence of a knee problem suffered in the defeat by Motherwell.

The Canadian has been training this week and could force his way onto the bench for the game at Pittodrie.

On the down side for Robertson is an injury picked up by Neil MacFarlane, the midfielder likely to miss the trip north having picked up a niggling knee problem. He will join Phil Stamp on the sidelines, the Englishman ruled out by the ankle injury which saw him stretchered off towards the end of last weekend’s emphatic victory over Dunfermline at Tynecastle. The win over the Pars saw the Gorgie outfit maintain its good form since the arrival of Robbo and the Jambos boss is looking for more of the same.

"We have been playing well and we will have to do so again tomorrow," he said.

"Phil Stamp is out and Neil MacFarlane doesn’t look like he’ll make it as he has a bit of niggle with a knee but what was encouraging was the performance of the reserves in beating Dundee 5-1 earlier this week."

He added: "I thought they were absolutely magnificent, with tremendous displays from Michael Stewart, Neil Janczyk, Robert Sloan and Graham Weir.

"When they put in performances like that after doing well in training it sends a message to the first team regulars that they are knocking on the door and ready to step up if performances drop."

Taken from the Scotsman