Derby return for Hearts ace

EDGARAS JANKAUSKAS is winning his fitness fight ahead of this weekend's Edinburgh derby and could make a surprise return to the Hearts starting line-up at Easter Road.

The Lithuanian striker is "looking good," according to head coach Valdas Ivanauskas, who has tried to protect one of his main forwards by refusing to risk him in today's reserve match with Aberdeen at Forthbank Stadium.

Boss Ivanauskas oversaw Jankauskas' return to training at Riccarton over the weekend. The player had been absent since the Champions League qualifier in Athens in August due to a persistent thigh problem.

With Michal Pospisil also making progress from a troublesome dead leg, Ivanauskas anticipates a welcome refreshment of his attacking options for the journey to face Hibernian on Sunday.

He said: "Edgaras is getting fitter and has trained for four days now. He is training well and looking good for the weekend. After so long out with injury we need to be very careful because it is a little bit of a danger, basically.

"I wouldn't take a risk with him in the reserves. He is very ex-perienced and we feel it is better that he just trains.

"Michal wanted to play today but, after we trained on Saturday and Sunday, he had a small reaction, so we will take no risks. He will be recovering and training for the rest of the week, hopefully."

On Pospisil, assistant coach John McGlynn added: "This has been since the Rangers game when Michal got a dead leg.

"He hasn't played since and has spent all that time recovering from it. Unfortunately, it was quite a bad one and just wouldn't clear up. When he was doing full-out sprints on Sunday he felt it a bit so we have to monitor him along with the physios.

"He was programmed to play today but after having a little twinge it's probably better that he takes it easy."

Left wingers Neil McCann and Andy Driver look likely to be absent from the meeting with Hibs due to knee and muscle injuries respectively.

Ivanauskas continued: "Neil is running and, whilst we are hopeful, he has the biggest question mark over him for the derby. Andy is still the same, basically. He is a little bit better but he is suffering with muscle problems.

"Nerijus Barasa has a small chance and he returned to full training with the first-team squad today.

"I think he needs match practice, though, so I think he will play in the reserve game next Tuesday [away to Dundee United]."

Ivanauskas is encouraged by the aptitude shown by Portuguese defender Jose Goncalves, who has only just returned to full training after undergoing surgery on both his hip and toes over the summer.

"Jose came back yesterday for his first full training session and he looked good," said the Lithuanian.

"He will also need match practice so we should be able to get him involved in the reserve match next week.

"It's early for him but he has been working so hard to come back. It's good news."

Taken from the Scotsman