Pressley set for Hearts comeback after virus

HEARTS captain Steven Pressley was due to return to training today and hand the Jambos a massive boost ahead of their Tennent's Scottish Cup quarter-final clash with Partick Thistle on Saturday.

The Scotland internationalist was sent home from training on Monday suffering from the effects of a virus and has been confined to his bed for the last two days.

However, the influential defender was expected to report for training this morning and, assuming he suffers no adverse reaction today or tomorrow, will go straight into the side to face Thistle.

"We are expecting him to return because he's been improving in the last few days which is good news," said coach John McGlynn.

"He had a sort of tummy bug and we felt at the start of the week that it was best he was at home resting ahead of what is an important match for us.

"If he comes through today and tomorrow then he will have a decent chance of playing which is good as he is a very important player for us."

Should Pressley fail to shake off the effects of the virus, Scotland Future squad member Christophe Berra is on standby for the clash. Meanwhile, head coach Graham Rix today pointed to Portuguese midfielder Bruno Aguiar as a sterling example to his new signings who are toiling to adapt to the rigours of the Scottish game.

A large number of Hearts' January recruits, including £1.3million pair Mirsad Beslija and Juho Makela, have been ordered to train separately from the first-team squad this month and undertake a fitness programme aimed at improving their physical condition. Aguiar, who signed on transfer deadline day on a free from Benfica, has been the exception, having promptly displayed his ability to adjust to the tempo of the SPL in appearances against Aberdeen and Motherwell.

"I think Bruno has understood fairly early on what is required for Scottish football," said Rix. "He has adapted well to the pace of the game, which is hectic not just in Scotland but in Britain as a whole. He is decent on the ball, but he knows when to put his foot in and I think we saw that on Saturday. He played well against Motherwell and he can look after himself because he is a tough little cookie. I think people would agree he's done well so far."

Rix is hardly short on options in any department since Hearts' majority shareholder, Vladimir Romanov, furnished him with 11 new players at the end of last month, and the number of midfielders at the club has already presented a few welcome conundrums for the head coach.

Another alternative presented itself on Tuesday when the Brazilian Samuel Camazzola played 90 minutes in the reserves' 0-0 draw with Motherwell after missing more than two months with a stress fracture in his foot.

"He has been unlucky with injuries so I'm hoping he can get his fitness up and allow me to get a good look at him in game situations," said Rix. "We have Aguiar as an option in midfield and Nerijus Barasa can also play in there, although he is not quite there yet in terms of fitness. But we do have options."

With key figures Paul Hartley and Julien Brellier suspended from the SPL meeting with Livingston on Sunday week and the Frenchman also absent for the trip to Inverness the following weekend, contenders for midfield berths are welcomed by Rix.

"Having everybody fit is what we are after," he said. "That's why the players are training in different groups and doing different exercises. We need everybody available."

Taken from the Scotsman