Webster will keep Hearts and minds away from final

JON DALY played alongside Andy Webster when Dundee United won the Scottish Cup in 2010 but he believes his former team-mate will be the man keeping Hearts focused on the games they must play before the all-Edinburgh final that will define their season.

Webster was outstanding during his season-long loan at United before he left Rangers to return to Hearts. Daly rates the former Scotland defender as both a team-mate and an opponent against whom he will try to increase the 21-goal haul that earned him a nomination for the PFA Player of the Year award.

Daly said: "I've got a lot of respect for Webby. He will definitely keep them focused and make sure their feet stay on the ground in the build up to the Scottish Cup final. He's a great player to have in your side as I know from when he played here on loan a couple of seasons ago.

"Webby's a big, strong lad who reads the game really well. He's quite quick as well for someone his size. He's tough to play against, as I well know, but hopefully I'll cause him a few problems. It's always been a good battle any time I've played against him in the past and I think it's going to be another one on Saturday."

United have crept up on Motherwell in the race for the third-place spot that will earn a place in the qualifiers for the Champions League. A win in the early kick-off today will increase the pressure ahead of their rivals' game against St Johnstone later today.

Daly added: "We'll just need to make sure we look after our own business. If we can keep winning our games then it adds pressure onto them. Hopefully they slip up."

David Obua has become the first high-earner to be told he has no future at Hearts, who announced that the Ugandan will leave the club in the summer when his contract expires. The 28-year-old last featured for the club over two months ago.

Director Sergejus Fedotovas has stated the club will "sell or release some of the senior and fringe players" as Hearts seek to reduce their wage bill by promoting academy players to the first team. However, Aaron Murdoch, Chris Tobin, Ryan Stewart, Colin Hamilton and Matthew Park, all products of the club's academy, have also been informed their contracts will not be renewed.

Taken from the Herald