Rix in search to find striker

HEARTS today launched an immediate striker hunt after losing striker Edgaras Jankauskas for up to two months with a badly strained hamstring.

Head coach Graham Rix saw the Lithuanian limp reluctantly out of Saturday's Scottish Cup victory over Kilmarnock and knew instantly that the 30-year-old would be missing for a large portion of the foreseeable future.

The initial timescale predicted for Jankauskas' injury to heal is six to eight weeks, forcing Rix to turn his attention to recruiting a new forward whilst attempting to conclude deals to bring Lee Johnson and Mirsad Beslija to Edinburgh.

"The striking area is something we must now look at," said Rix

"Edgar is going to be out for quite a while. You never know exactly with these things but it will be a long time. He has strained his hamstring with the possibility of there being a slight tear in there.

"The length of his absence could be anything - one month, two months."

Jankauskas' enforced absence leaves Rix with only the Czech Michal Pospisil and 18-year-old Calum Elliot as recognised first-team attackers, however that will not stop Hearts from allowing Graham Weir to leave Tynecastle on loan until the end of the season. Weir is striving for fitness after recovering from a leg break, and Queen of the South manager Ian McCall has already intimated his interest in loaning the player until the summer.

"It is still likely that Graham will go out on loan because he needs games," said Rix. "He's been working hard for us recently but matches are required now."

Beslija and Johnson were expected to sign for Hearts today, subject to successfully negotiating medical examinations. Rix added: "We have wanted both of them all along, although there remains a slight possibility that we won't sign both of them permanently.

"I don't want to set ourselves up for a fall. Hopefully, within the next few days, both the Beslija and Johnson deals will be tied up."

Rix received good news yesterday with the news that he will have full-back Takis Fyssas available for Saturday's SPL match at Dunfermline after the SFA rescinded the Greek's red card in the recent match with Celtic.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who was incensed at Fyssas' dismissal for pulling down Shaun Maloney, believes justice has been done. "It's absolutely the correct decision because there was no contact made. Takis didn't deserve to be sent off and in any case Maloney was going away from goal. The decision cost us the game."

Paul Hartley has been cited to appear before the SFA's disciplinary committee to answer a charge of significantly serious misconduct after a review panel viewed footage from the Celtic match.

Taken from the Scotsman