Frustrated Goncalves eyes Hearts comeback next week

AFTER six frustrating months on the sidelines, Hearts defender Jose Goncalves is confident he will be ready to return to first-team action as early as next week.

The Portuguese Under-21 international, who tore a hamstring against Kilmarnock in April, came through 65 minutes of Tuesday's reserve game against Dundee United unscathed and hopes to be in contention for a place when Hearts take on Dunfermline at Tynecastle on 28 October. "I think just one week," said Goncalves when asked when he would be fit enough to contend for a first-team place. "I need more confidence and practice in training and after that I'll be okay. I feel all right. I am back in full training. I played 65 minutes with the reserve team this week and I am just happy to be back now."

Goncalves has made only six appearances for Hearts since joining the club in January and has endured a frustrating ten months in Edinburgh. The athletic defender, who moved from Thun to Kaunas for £700,00 before being immediately loaned to Hearts, suffered concussion after an accidental collision with Craig Gordon during the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Hibs, and then underwent an operation on cosmetic damage to his foot in the summer. He has not played this season due to a serious hip injury.

"It's so hard when you play football and you get an injury when you are three, four and then six months out," he added. "You can do nothing, just train hard and work hard to be back as soon as possible. But I only look forward."

Although he missed out on Hearts' Scottish Cup final success against Gretna, Goncalves was happy to represent the Scottish Cup holders yesterday at Edinburgh University, where he made the draw for the first and second round.

"That was the first time I had touched the cup, so I was happy," he said.

What would make him happier, of course, would be an opportunity to play first-team football again. Takis Fysass and Lee Wallace are currently ahead of him in the queue for his favoured left-back berth, but Goncalves is ready for the challenge.

He said: "Christophe Berra, Takis Fyssas and Lee Wallace have been playing well, but they need to watch me and my fitness. I need to work hard to get back on the pitch."

Taken from the Scotsman