Pinilla back for Hearts as injury worries are eased

HEARTS' recent injury troubles began to dissipate today with the news that Mauricio Pinilla, Deivdas Cesnauskis and Andy Driver will all return to the squad for Sunday's visit to Aberdeen.

The Chilean forward has been the subject of inaccurate rumours all week which suggested he had walked out on the club but, after recovering from a calf problem, he could start the match at Pittodrie.

Cesnauskis was withdrawn in the first half of last weekend's victory at Motherwell after suffering a knock but has recovered sufficiently and is joined in the squad by Driver after the teenager overcame a thigh injury.

The recoveries represent welcome respite for the Hearts management team of Valdas Ivanauskas and John McGlynn, who have been forced to deploy virtually every fit member of their expansive squad in recent weeks whilst the club's medical staff tried to cope with the mounting injuries.

McGlynn said: "Pinilla is fine and is available for selection now along with a few others, which is great news for us. We seem to be getting a few players back and it will be good to have options in the wider areas in light of Mirsad Beslija's jaw injury.

"Cesnauskis and Driver come into contention and we also have Mikoliunas and McCann for those positions, but the guys who have come in to the team during all these injuries have done a tremendous job and that shouldn't be forgotten.

"On Wednesday night we saw good performances from two youth players, Alan Lithgow and Eggert Jonsson, as well as a hat-trick from Juho Makela so with our squad edging nearer full fitness it's going to be a task selecting a team."

Beslija and Christos Karipidis will miss the Dons match after injuring their jaw and knee respectively in the 4-0 CIS Cup victory at Alloa. Edgaras Jankauskas is also unlikely to feature but he could be ready in time to travel to Prague for the UEFA Cup return with Sparta on Thursday.

"Edgar is struggling for the weekend but he will be very close to making it for the game in Prague," continued McGlynn. "If he doesn't make it then he should be fine for our next match with Dundee United."

Jose Goncalves is still three weeks away from playing but McGlynn reported impressive progress in his fitness. Nerijus Barasa is also some weeks away from a first-team return.

Meanwhile, Finnish striker Makela has revealed that he came close to quitting Hearts during the summer because of his lack of first-team action.

Wednesday was Makela's first start since his arrival from HJK Helsinki in January and his three goals acted as the catalyst for his side's progress to the CIS Cup fourth round.

However, he has admitted that his continual omission from the side has grated with him this year. When asked if he thought about moving on before the closure of the summer transfer window, he said: "Yes, there was some interest from Germany and Switzerland but for many reasons it didn't work out. Hearts didn't want to let me go. They said they needed me and I stayed.

"But things have to change very quickly if I am going to stay here. I just want to play football and I have made that point to the club."

Taken from the Scotsman