It's worse than that - it's broken, George

HEARTS boss George Burley has been dealt a hammer blow with the news that striker Graham Weir has suffered a fractured shin.

The front man was stretchered off early in the second half against St Patrick's Athletic on Sunday and hospital X-rays in Dublin yesterday have confirmed the news the player was dreading.

Weir will miss the first few months of the new season, leaving Burley with just Dennis Wyness as the only fit first-team striker at his disposal at the moment.

"The X-rays showed there is a fracture in the tibia," said the Hearts boss.

"It's a huge blow for the lad and the last thing we wanted. He will be out for some time.

"We were fearing the worst as the lad was still in some pain the day after the match so it wasn't looking good. It's disappointing as he had been looking good in training but things happen football when you least want them to."

Burley, meanwhile, has shrugged off the controversy surrounding Andy Webster snubbing the club's tour to Ireland and insisted the defender will be back training on Thursday.

The 23-year-old was left behind amid speculation linking him with a move to Rangers but despite his disappointment at the situation, the Tynecastle chief still regards the Scotland star as a vital member of his squad.

As we reported yesterday, the player has rejected a new long-term deal - offered prior to Burley's arrival - and seems to have his heart set on furthering his career elsewhere.

The former Arbroath stopper still has two years of his present contract to run and Burley wants to build his team around the international nucleus of Webster, Steven Pressley, Craig Gordon and Paul Hartley.

"Andy will be in training on Thursday and we'll be looking to get him involved in a game we have that night," said Burley.

"It would have been nice to have seen him in these games in Ireland. I have seen him in training when he did well, he's a Scottish internationalist and is rated very highly. I want him to stay and that hasn't changed.

"Andy's a very good professional but he's had his head turned, which is disappointing. That's why I said to him to have a few days at home to think about it and come in fresh and ready to play for Hearts on Thursday.

"I don't have a problem with Andy but at the end of the day Hearts have to come first. The club is bigger than anybody, be it Andy Webster, George Burley or whoever."

Burley, meanwhile, is considering whether to give Pressley and Hartley a run out against Bray Wanderers tonight. He used seven substitutes in the 0-0 draw with St Pat's and will take the opportunity tonight to chop and change his personnel again.

Taken from the Scotsman