ANGUS WRIGHT

HEARTS' flying start to the new season hit a stumbling block yesterday with the news that Roman Bednar will be out of action for four to six weeks.

The Czech striker will have an operation on his knee today after a scan showed he had sustained cartilage damage during Saturday's 1-0 victory over Rangers at Tynecastle.

Hearts manager George Burley said: "He'll undergo keyhole surgery and after that it is a question of him recovering and getting himself back into training. It looks like it will be four to six weeks out for the boy, but to be honest we are only guessing. We'll take it as it comes."

Bednar helped Hearts maintain their 100 per cent league record when he netted the only goal of the game against the champions but was injured shortly afterwards following a tackle by Marvin Andrews.

Hearts now find themselves short of striking options for Sunday's away game at Falkirk.

"We have Michal Pospisil returning to training this week but we need to be careful not to rush him because he hasn't played for six or seven weeks," said Burley. "Graham Weir is also out, and then we are down to the under-19 players."

Burley may now consider Calum Elliot, 18, Jamie Mole, 17, and Hjalmar Thorarinsson, 19, for Sunday's match.



Taken from the Scotsman