Neil's knee scan hope

HEARTS winger Neil McCann's knee injury isn't as bad as first feared, it was revealed this morning.

The ex-Southampton ace limped out of his Hearts return on Saturday after just 23 minutes as result of being hurt in a challenge with Kilmarnock's David Lilley.

McCann underwent a scan yesterday and, although it confirmed he has suffered medial ligament damage, it is not as bad as first thought.

It was initially feared he could be sidelined for more than two months but could now be back in action by the end of February.

Hearts coach John McGlynn said: "Being out just after he signed for the club is obviously not great but it's not as bad as it could have been and that's good.

"We originally thought Neil would be out for six to eight weeks but it now looks as though it will be four to six."

Hearts are, however, sweating over the fitness of Czech striker Michal Pospisil ahead of this weekend's crunch Edinburgh derby.

The former Slovan Liberec striker picked up a dead leg during Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and has so far failed to shake off the problem.

Roman Bednar and Edgaras Jankauskas are already ruled out of clash and, should Pospisil fail to prove his fitness, the Jambos would be left with 18-year-old Calum Elliot as their only recognised striker.

Pospisil is undergoing intensive physiotherapy in a bid to have him ready for the game.

Meanwhile, midfielders Neil MacFarlane and Stephen Simmons have both been told they can quit the club if they can agree a severance package.

And another player who could be on his way out of Tynecastle, for the time being at least, is Icelandic striker Hjalmar Thorarinsson.

The 19-year-old has made just one appearance this season and Clyde have enquired about taking him on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Oxford United winger Chris Hackett arrived in Edinburgh this morning after Hearts agreed a £20,000 fee for the player.

He has still to undergo a medical but, all going well, he is expected to officially put pen to paper within the next 48 hours.

Reports today, meanwhile, have linked Hearts with a £250,000 move for former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris.

Morris, who knows Jambos boss Graham Rix from his time at Stamford Bridge, is currently at Millwall but is out of contract at the end of the season.

HEARTS reserves earned a 2-2 draw away to Dundee United at Station Park, Forfar, yesterday thanks to a double from Jamie Mole.

Hearts: MacDonald, Thomson, Wallace, Tall, Lithgow, Neill, McLaughlin (Armstrong 83), Johnson (Devine 60), Thorarinsson (Mackie 60), Mole, Doherty. Subs: Bjornsson, Slater

Taken from the Scotsman