Champions League tie too soon for Hartley

HEARTS midfielder Paul Hartley last night spoke of his frustration at missing out on a Champions League debut after admitting that next week's second-round qualifying match will come too soon for his injured groin.

The Scotland international was relieved earlier in the month to be told that he would not need an operation to clear up a problem which surfaced in the wake of the Tynecastle club's Scottish Cup triumph in May.

However, having only just been given the all-clear to step up the intensity of his rehabilitation, the 29-year-old has resigned himself to filling nothing more than a place in the stand at Murrayfield a week tomorrow when Hearts take on either Bosnian side Siroki Brijeg or Shakhtyor of Belarus.

Hartley also faces the prospect of missing the first-leg of a third qualifying-round clash with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool or Inter Milan should Hearts make it to the next round, which takes place in only three weeks' time.

"At the moment it looks like next week's game will come too soon for me," he admitted. "I've been building up the running over the last few days but I've not done a pre-season [campaign] and I don't want to rush the injury and make it worse and set myself back a few more weeks.

"I will be really disappointed to miss the game next Wednesday, but I wouldn't kid the players on or the manager and pretend that I'm OK just to play. I wouldn't do that. It will be disappointing, but it's just a frustrating time I'm having just now."

Hearts will find out tomorrow night who they face in next week's historic Champions League bow, with Siroki Brijeg taking a 1-0 lead into their home tie with Shakhtyor.

Taken from the Scotsman