HEARTS LINE UP MIDFIELD MOVE

Hearts have targeted FBK Kaunas midfielder Andrius Bartkus on a loan deal.

The 20-year-old recently left Lithuanian club, FK Atlantas, and could join countryman Marius Zaliukas who moved at Tynecastle earlier this week.

Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas told the Edinburgh Evening News: "He is a young boy and has a good future. We have interest in him.

"He might come to Hearts but he will need to adapt to Scottish football. He is a central midfield player and we need options there.

"He can hold or go long and is strong with a good engine. He is young and needs experience for the big games."

Meanwhile, midfielder Paul Hartley is still waiting to hear on the possibility of playing in the Bank of Scotland Premier League game at Rangers on Saturday.

The Scotland international, 29, made his return to action in a practice game against Gretna earlier this week and suffered no reaction to his recent groin injury.

Ivanauskas said: "He has not suffered any reaction but we still have to wait to make a decision.

"He is tired and that is normal but the fact that there is no reaction is important.

"We will not play him if he is a risk but he does have a chance. It will be down to what the physios tell me."

Defender Takis Fyssas will be assessed by the Tynecastle medical staff after withdrawing from the first half of Greece's 4-0 defeat by England at Old Trafford.

Taken from sportinglife.com