Beslija and McCann injuries not as serious as first feared

MARTIN McMILLAN February 07 2006

Graham Rix, the Hearts head coach last night welcomed the news that the club's record signing Mirsad Beslija has not suffered knee ligament damage.

Beslija was carried off on his debut in the 3-0 Scottish Cup win against Aberdeen on Saturday after the visitors' substitute John Stewart accidentally stood on his left knee.

It was feared the Bosnian, one of 11 new faces who arrived at Tynecastle last month in an £850,000 deal from Racing Genk, may have sustained serious damage but that has proved not to be the case and Beslija could even feature against Dundee United in tonight's Bank of Scotland Premierleague meeting.

Rix, who could see his side cut the gap on leaders Celtic to five points with a win

this evening, said yesterday: "Mirsad's injury is not as bad as first thought and he has got a chance of playing. He trained this morning and provided there is no reaction tomorrow he is available for selection."

There was further good news for Rix with Neil McCann's return to training. It had been predicted that the 31-year-old would miss the next six weeks but the former Southampton winger's injury is responding well and he may be ready to play again within 10 days.

"Neil McCann is also making rapid progress and has worked really hard," said Rix. "He was out yesterday with the physio actually doing a little bit of ball work. He's not 100% but the fact he is out there suggests he could be back in a week to 10 days."

However, the Hearts coach believes his resurgent team will face a major test at Tannadice this evening and has been impressed by the turnaround Craig Brewster has effected in his short time as United manager.

Rix said: "The way we're playing at the moment we want to play every day. The whole place is buzzing at the moment but Tannadice is a tough place to go to and they have a new manager in Craig as well, so it won't be easy. "They'll be fired up and we've got to match that. But if we give 100% I can't ask any more from my boys."

Brewster, appreciates the task in hand, having watched Hearts swot aside Aberdeen – the team who ended United's interest in the Tennent's Scottish Cup – at the weekend.

" Matching their strength will be a priority. Regardless of who is picked, they will be a formidable side. Right now, they have a squad of 35 and need two first-team dressing rooms, whereas we have 37 players for three teams.

"But you can only play 11 at a time, although they have strength and work hard for each other. We have players who can create in the final third, so they won't get it all their own way."

Taken from the Herald