I WILL BE SCOUT AND ABOUT WHILE SIDE FACE THE BUDDIES

THERE are few benefits to be gained as a coach from picking up a ban from the dug-out.

But rather than watch Hearts take on St Mirren on Saturday I'll be a couple of thousand miles away on a spying mission.

I fly out on Saturday morning to take in a game later that day involving our UEFA Cup opponents, Sparta Prague, who are playing at home against Tescoma Zlin.

Valdas Ivanauskas also took in their game 10 days ago when they lost 3-0 and then sacked coach Stanislav Griga following a start to the season that has yielded just eight points from their first five matches.

They have since appointed Michal Bilek but we must be mindful the change of manager does not work in their favour over the next few weeks.

I'd have preferred to face them in the first leg at Murray field next week with their club still in the doldrums but it will be interesting to note the changes to the team when Valdas and I get round to marrying our reports together.

I'll stay in touch with events against the Saints by phone but I'll keep tabs on most of our players later this afternoon on television.

It's a great honour for Hearts to have so many players involved in the European Championship match between Scotland and Lithuania in Kaunas.

However, from a selfish point of view, the last thing we want is our players returning home hurt or injured even if the SFA have been good enough to allow our Lithuanian lads to hitch a lift home on the official Scotland charter.

This is going to be a very competitive fixture because the benefits of winning for both sides will be substantial.

Everyone in Scotland will be delighted if we kick off our campaign with six points out of six but Lithuania will also be on an enormous high following their magnificent 1-1 draw against Italy on Saturday.

If either team is going to win later this afternoon they are going to have to exert a lot of energy and effort in the process and that's no good thing for Hearts as we want our players fresh for SPL action.

Valdas and I are probably the only two people at Riccarton who haven't been winding each other up about the game over the past few weeks but I'd still love bragging rights.

I'm not one to gloat but it would be nice to welcome the lads back to the club on Thursday with a smile on my face and a positive result for Scotland tucked up my sleeve for use at a later date.

Another reason I'm hoping for a clean bill of health tonight is the fact our squad is stretched at the moment as a result of injuries to key players.

There was a fair sprinkling of media at Forth bank on Tuesday to watch our reserves in action against Rangers, with all eyes on Barry Ferguson.

However, we were also delighted to get a few players back in action, including Roman Bednar.

He hasn't played since our defeat at Ibrox a few weeks ago when he picked up a knee injury but he came through 45 minutes unscathed in Stirling.

In fact, Roman might even have scored a hat-trick in the first half and he'll probably come into our thoughts for the Saints game, especially as Michal Pospisil is still struggling.

Edgaras Jankauskas is out for the next month, Ibrahim Tall is unlikely to play for another couple of weeks and Jose Goncalves probably won't return until November after undergoing a hip operation recently.

The absence of two experienced defenders has been a blow but it has also allowed Christophe Berra the chance to start realising his potential.

Of course, Andy Webster's absence has also given Christophe the chance to play more first-team football and our former defender has just been given the OK to sign for Wigan.

It goes without saying we're sad to see Andy leave the club. He was a model pro and, despite everything that was going on, he never lost focus on his job.

Andy has been a good servant to Hearts and we genuinely wish him well in the Premiership.

Taken from the Daily Record