Berra provides bridge between old and new as youngsters get set

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS’ training ground at Riccarton assumed something of a ghost-like appearance this week as a flu virus swept through the club.

First-team stars dropped like flies as the bug wreaked havoc with boss John Robertson’s plans for tomorrow’s visit of Inverness Caley Thistle.

The Heriot-Watt complex was declared a no-go zone until Wednesday in a bid to ease the problem but that proved in vain with almost a dozen players badly affected.

As we reported in the later edition of yesterday’s Evening News, with almost a dozen players laid low by the problem - skipper Steven Pressley and Robbie Neilson were ruled out more than 48 hours before the game - the club approached the SPL with a request to have the game postponed.

A final decision from Hampden was expected today but if the Tynecastle outfit’s request is rejected and the game goes ahead, Robertson could be forced to field a barely-recognisable starting XI against Craig Brewster’s in-form side.

In addition to Pressley and Neilson, Jamie McAllister, Neil MacFarlane, Lee Miller, Paul Hartley, Stephen Simmons, Mark Burchill, Marius Kizys and Kevin McKenna are all toiling with the bug, which also saw Robertson and his assistant Donald Park confined to bed last week.

Centre-half Christophe Berra was one of the few players left standing after yesterday’s training session and with Robertson resigned to the fact he will be forced to do without captain Pressley for the fourth consecutive match - the 31-year-old last played in the 2-0 defeat by Motherwell at Fir Park - 20-year-old Berra is relishing an extended run in the top team.

Preparations have therefore been far from ideal this week as the squad prepared for the visit of their manager’s former club, as Berra acknowledged.

"There has been a lot of people missing from training this week and it has been a bit unusual in that respect," he said.

"We have tried to get on with things as best we could as we know we are facing a very difficult game against Inverness. We were told to stay away from the academy on Monday and Tuesday as a few of the lads had been suffering a bit but more and more seemed to go down with the bug.

"We actually struggled to get proper training games organised and had to use a lot of the young boys. To be honest it was a case of making the most of what was left."

With the first-team squad having been decimated by the virus, a number of the club’s most promising young stars have been put on standby for the visit of the Highlanders.

Robertson is considering handing 17-year-old Jason Thomson his debut at right-back in the absence of Neilson and his inclusion would see the back four line up with an average age of just 19.

Highly-rated Berra, though, is a perfect example that if you’re good enough you’re old enough and the Edinburgh starlet has every faith that his inexperienced team-mates can follow him and make an impression should they be called upon tomorrow.

"There is no doubt we have the players who can cope with the situation," he said. "It’s not ideal but we just have to get on with things as I said.

"We could have a very young back four tomorrow if the game does go ahead, including two 17-year-olds at full-back.

"I’m 20 and Andy (Webster) is 22 so it would be a big test for us but one I am sure we could handle.

"It would probably be the youngest back four in the SPL but they younger ones have been doing well and deserve their chance.

"They have been doing well in the reserves and will want to make the most of any opening that may come their way."

Berra, whose father is French, has coped well with his own exposure to the pressures of involvement with the first team.

He is the first to admit he has much still to learn and knows he will have to be on his toes to cope with a lively visiting side tomorrow afternoon.

"Getting a run of games is what I needed and it has been a great experience," he said.

"I am learning in every game. I make mistakes but that is all part of the learning process.

"Coming up against better players can only help my game and hopefully I will be involved tomorrow. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens with everyone."

After losing to Rangers in controversial circumstances and dropping two points against Dunfermline at East End Park at the weekend, Hearts need a victory to stay in the race for third spot in the SPL.

They will come up against opponents, though, who will head to Edinburgh on a crest of a wave having followed up their 3-0 thrashing of Hibs in Inverness with a 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

"We were disappointed to lose the game to Rangers but haven’t really been affected by everything that happened afterwards," said Berra.

"We took it on the chin and got on with things. We could have beaten Dunfermline after a poor first half but had to settle for a point.

"We now have two home games coming up against Inverness and Livingston and it is important that we take six points from them if we can. First of all we have to take care of tomorrow and Inverness will come here full of confidence after their recent good results. They work hard, are very fit and lively and won’t give us a minute’s peace. We have to try to win the battle tomorrow and then hopefully get down to playing some football."

Taken from the Scotsman