HOTSHOT BEDNAR FACING EURO KO

ROMAN BEDNAR is set to miss Hearts' Euro crunch with AEK Athens - but fellow striker Michal Pospisil could be ready to play.

That was the mixed injury news ahead of the return Champions League qualifier in Greece tomorrow in which Hearts have to overturn a 2-1 deficit.

Czech Bednar hurt his foot in the 2-0 defeat to Rangers and is unlikely to be in head coach Valdas Ivanauskas' travelling party today.

Countryman Pospisil lasted just 16 minutes as his replacement before suffering a dead leg but he is recovering quickly.

The 27-year-old will be given a chance to prove his fitness and could yet start along with Paul Hartley.

Hartley went on for the last 20 minutes at Ibrox after beating a groin problem and could be thrown in at the deep end at the Olympic Stadium for his first competitive start since the Scottish Cup Final on May 13.

Assistant coach John McGlynn said: "Bednar is really struggling and I don't think he will be travelling. It's the instep of his foot and it's a tender area causing a lot of pain.

"But Pospisil will travel and we will give him right until the last minute. He is not 100 per cent fit but if keeps improving at the same rate he has been he has a good chance.

"With Bruno Aguiar suspended, Hartley would be the ideal replacement but it depends whether or not he is ready."

AEK began their league campaign with a 0-0 draw against PAOK Salonika on Saturday.

Taken from the Daily Record