Darren Johnstone
HEARTS midfielder Michael Stewart's poor disciplinary record has led to the player being handed a three-match suspension in the wake of Saturday's sending-off at St Mirren.
The Scotland cap received his marching orders just before the break for lashing out at Hugh Murray after referee Mike McCurry took advice from fourth official Bobby Madden regarding the off-the-ball incident.

A dismissal for violent conduct carries the penalty of 12 points and that will see Stewart crash through the disciplinary threshold. And, after serving a ban last term, Stewart has been dealt an additional match suspension. Stewart will sit out tomorrow night's clash with Hamilton, but will be eligible for Saturday's clash at Inverness.

He will serve the remainder of his ban against Falkirk on 22 November and Rangers the following week. With Stewart set to miss three games this month, manager Csaba Laszlo gave the midfielder a run-out for the reserves in yesterday's 2-2 draw against Hamilton at New Douglas Park. Stewart played the first 45 minutes of the match.

With Stewart facing a spell on the sidelines, there was a further blow to Hearts yesterday when it was revealed that winger Deividas Cesnauskis faces at least another month on the sidelines after tearing his thigh in the recent 2-0 defeat to Celtic.

The Lithuanian has been told he faces time on the sidelines after undergoing scans.

Meanwhile, Laszlo has waxed lyrical on Eggert Jonsson after the Icelandic international scored the winner on Saturday playing as a surrogate centre-half.

Jonsson, who began his career as a midfielder, moved to the centre of defence from right-back because of suspension to Marius Zaliukas and injury to Christos Karipidis. As well as playing an essential role in ensuring the Buddies failed to register a single shot on target, Jonsson's glancing header found the net in the 79th minute. Laszlo said: "As a coach you look at people and see where they can play.

"I knew he could play in the right-back position and I was confident he could play in the centre of the defence against St Mirren. It's not just his performance, though. Attitude is very important and every day he works hard and gives 120 per cent in training, and I wish there could be more like him.

"When you work hard and you have the gifts, then this is good. Every day he is working very well, and I like this. He is young but still going forward and this is good to see."

Taken from the Scotsman