Hearts' UEFA campaign hit by player shortage

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS will be minus eight first-team players when Hearts enter the UEFA Cup later this month after it emerged that all three of the recent Lithuanian signings are cup-tied for the entire tournament.

Marius Zaliukas, Andrius Velicka and Kestutis Ivaskevicius played in both UEFA Cup qualifying rounds for FBK Kaunas before joining Hearts on season-long loans and are therefore unable to play any part in the competition for the Edinburgh club.
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Their ineligibility presents Ivanauskas with added selection problems for the visit of Sparta Prague to Murrayfield on the 14th of the month. Julien Brellier and Neil McCann are already suspended following their dismissals in the final Champions League qualifier, and Nerijus Barasa, Ibrahim Tall and Jose Goncalves remain long-term injuries.

When asked about the absences of Zaliukas, Velicka and Ivaskevicius, the head coach said: "They can't play and that's a little disappointing. We must try to compensate. The season is long and no doubt we will have more injuries in the future, but we have 26 to 28 players now."

Brellier's absence could cause the biggest dilemma for Ivanauskas in the holding midfield role against Sparta, for Barasa and Tall would be more than capable replacements for the Frenchman if available.

With Paul Hartley gaining momentum after a groin injury the head coach has cause for optimism. The midfielder was due to play for Scotland against the Faroe Islands today and is certain to start on Wednesday when Walter Smith takes his squad to face Lithuania in Kaunas.

"It is very important that Paul gets more match practice," said Ivanauskas, who was at Celtic Park today. "After a long injury it is good to see him back but I want him to be cautious. He must be very careful."

Meanwhile, Hearts' European opponents Sparta Prague have named Michal Bilek as their new head coach after sacking Stanislav Griga on Thursday. Bilek, who arrives from Viktoria Pilzen, is a former Sparta player who won seven Czech championships with the club.

Taken from the Scotsman