HIBERNIAN are on the verge of completing one of the biggest transfer surprises of the summer by snatching midfielder Michael Stewart from rivals Hearts.

The Manchester United midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Tynecastle, could sign in time for the Hibs' trip to Ireland next weekend.

The 24-year-old thought he had landed his dream move last year when he agreed to a season-long loan with Hearts, the team he grew up supporting.

However, the Scotland international failed to make much of an impact in Gorgie and a career which once promised so much hit the buffers yet again.

With Hearts shrouded in uncertainty as the hunt for a new manager goes on, a permanent move to his boyhood heroes failed to materialise and Hibs manager Tony Mowbray quickly pounced.

Mowbray is confident he can overcome Stewart's recent problems and coax the play-maker's undoubted talents back to the surface.

Hibs are hopeful a year-long deal will be finalised in time for the start of pre-season training on Thursday.

The player is expected to seal a settlement on the last year of his Manchester United contract before then.

"I know there will be stick from some quarters," he said. "I'm an Edinburgh boy, I've grown up within that derby environment. But Tony Mowbray is a manager who is clearly going places with Hibs, and in the game at large. I wanted to stay in Edinburgh and I'm delighted to have been offered this opportunity. I'm just looking forward to working with a manager who believes in the game I want to play."

There was a further blow for Hearts at the weekend when it emerged that the club fielded striker Graham Weir against Celtic last month when he was out of contract.

The 20-year-old, who recently signed a one-year deal to stay at the club, missed most of last season because of injury and a bout of the mumps but was brought in from the cold by stand-in manager John McGlynn for the clash with the Parkhead side.

It subsequently transpired that Weir should not have played in the 2-1 defeat on 15 May because his contract had expired days earlier. He was not considered for the final-day clash with Aberdeen because by then the club was aware of the oversight.

Meanwhile, Hearts are today launching details of their season ticket packages. In a bid to attract new supporters to the football club, it is planned to devote the entire Gorgie Stand to families this season.

Taken from the Scotsman