I FEAR MY STARS COULD DIE ON PITCH

Mar 12 2005

Robbo tells why he won't risk flu-hit players after SPL KO postponement

By Gary Ralston

HEARTS boss John Robertson will not play his virus victims today because he fears they could drop dead at Tynecastle. The SPL rejected appeals from Hearts yesterday to have the game against Inverness postponed after a flu virus ravaged their Riccarton training base.Robertson has just10 first-team regulars fit, including only one midfielder but five strikers.

He is being forced to put youngsters he has hardly seen play on the bench and fears further call offs when his threadbare squad reports this morning.

However, the SPL board rejected their appeals because Hearts still have 22 registered players available, even though half are first-year rookies.

First-team regulars such as Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley, Jamie McAllister, Mark Burchill, Kevin McKenna and Neil MacFarlane have all been laid low. But Robbo will not compromise their safety after taking strict medical sounding from team doctor Dewar Melvin.

Robertson said: 'I'm not going to risk the lives of my players.

'We have taken medical advice and it's a viral infection, that means we'll take no chances with anyone.

'Dr Melvin says you cannot take risks with viral infections and we will not do that, we are dealing with players' lives.

'The SPL board say because we still have22 registered players we can field a team.

'It's disappointing but we respect the decision of the board and will get on with it.

Unlucky 'Now we have to put on a show with a starting line-up that will include five forwards and only one midfielder, Neil Janczyk.

'I'll be putting the strikers' names in a hat and the unlucky ones will be playing in the middle of the park.'

Robertson closed the club on Monday and Tuesday and was confident on Wednesday he would not have to call for a postponement. But the virus flared up again, leaving Hearts no option but to approach the authorities.

Robertson said: 'We've done it by the book and looked to be okay on Wednesday.

'However, we lost another four players on Thursday and immediately contacted the SPL to tell them we had a problem.

'It has been getting worse as the week has worn on and now we're approaching the situation day by day.'

Robertson hopes his team will be made up of Craig Gordon, Andy Webster, Christophe Berra, Lee Wallace, Deividas Cesnauskis, Ramon Pereira, Janczyk, Dennis Wyness, Graham Weir, Joe Hamill and 17-year-old Jason Thomson, who will make his debut at right-back.

His substitutes will include first-year apprentices Gary Lithgow, Ryan Gay, Ryan Kennedy and John Neill.

On-loan striker Lee Miller has been suffering headaches but will be thoroughly examined by Melvin before he is considered.

Robertson added: 'I'm worried one or two players might wake up in the morning and found they've come down with the virus overnight, then we'll have a major problem.

'However, I'd appeal to every single Hearts fan to roar us on because the players need all the help they can get.

'I'm sure they will appreciate the players who take the field for us will give it everything they've got, but the fans can help us.

'Caley are an in--form team who are flying at the moment and are probably only one or two games from securing their safety in the SPL, which would be a fantastic achievement.

'Hibs and Aberdeen are playing each other so it would be a vital three points for us if we win as we hang on to the possibility of UEFA Cup football next season.

'We'll be positive and it's a great opportunity for the youngsters to show me what they can do. There's a lot at stake but they will not let us down.

'I expect any player who pulls on a Hearts shirt to give us everything they've got and I'm sure they will.'

Taken from the Daily Record