Paulo Sergio ready to rest players against Celtic

Published on Tuesday 8 May 2012 00:00

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio has for the first time conceded that his mind is drifting towards the all-Edinburgh William Hill Scottish Cup final.

After the 2-0 win over St Johnstone on Sunday which saw Hearts leapfrog the Perth side into fifth spot by two points in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, Sergio admitted he was considering resting players for the final match of the season despite Hearts seeking to cement a Europa League spot.

Hearts travel to face a Celtic side on Sunday seeking to celebrate lifting the SPL trophy with victory at the end of the campaign, while Sergio and all of Edinburgh will be thinking six days on to Hampden, where Hibernian lie in wait in the Scottish Cup final. As well as the cup and capital bragging rights in the first all-Edinburgh final since 1896 being at stake on 19 May, there is also a Europa League place up for grabs, meaning Hearts have two opportunities to claim continental competition next term.

Looking ahead to the Celtic clash, Sergio told Hearts TV: “We’re going to manage this game in a different way from all the others. I have ideas maybe to save some players, because of all the things that can happen in the game and so not to lose them for the final.”

Striker Craig Beattie (hamstring) missed the midweek loss to Motherwell and the win over Saints, with Hearts’ attack appearing a little blunt without the targetman. Midfielder Ian Black has been nursing a hernia which will require an operation come the end of a season when he is due to leave Tynecastle, while others may also be rested.

Sergio accepts the race for fifth place and a Europa League spot is not yet sealed, but he anticipates Celtic will be at full strength and is perhaps banking on Rangers beating St Johnstone. Sergio added: “There is a game to play. Nothing is done.

“We should be very focused on our last game, try to do our best against Celtic. I know that [Celtic manager Neil] Lennon saved some players in the last two games, but I’m quite sure he’s going to put out his strongest squad against us next weekend. We’re going to be ready for that.”

Maybe Sergio is assuming Rangers will have too much for a St Johnstone side without a win in the last six games and determined to finish a tumultuous season – and likely the end of an era – on a high. Lomas anticipates a major rebuilding job this summer, with nine players signed up and other deals still to be done.

He said: “It’s going to be a big summer not just for me, but for the chairman [Steve Brown] and other people at the club, because we’re going to have to bring in quite a few players and that isn’t easy.”

Hearts, too, are facing an overhaul, with Black and fellow midfielder Adrian Mrowiec told their contracts will not be renewed, while others are certain to follow them out. Beattie’s deal expires at the end of the season, as does Rudi Skacel’s.

Taken from the Scotsman